First lady Melania Trump has long demonstrated a strong appreciation for the history of the White House as well as of those who have been privileged enough to occupy it, and that fact was evident last week during a special ceremony held in the East Room.
As Fox News reports, Mrs. Trump hosted an event that served as the official announcement of a commemorative stamp intended to honor the achievements and lasting legacy of former first lady Barbara Bush, wife of former President George H.W. Bush, though President Donald Trump was notably not in attendance.
Joining Mrs. Trump at the stamp's rollout was Doro Bush Koch, daughter of the former president and first lady, George & Barbara Bush Foundation CEO Alice Yates, and Judy de Torok, U.S. Postal Service vice president of corporate affairs.
Also on hand was Charles Fagan, the American artist responsible for the portrait of Mrs. Bush that is featured on the stamp, and he was joined by a host of Bush family members and friends as well as former staffers from the Bush White House.
Mrs. Trump paid tribute to the honoree, saying, “Barbara's unwavering conviction, dignity and deep loyalty to her loved ones have left an indelible mark on our hearts and history.”
The current first lady went on, “The unveiling of this commemorative stamp honors Barbara Bush's contributions as first lady and her enduring impact on our nation. May this tribute inspire us to lead with compassion, act with strength, and uphold the values that direct us toward a meaningful existence.”
Bush Koch spoke movingly about her late mother, highlighting her commitment to literacy and other worthy causes, noting, “Mom told her staff that she wanted to do something every day to help others, so that's what she did.”
The U.S. Postal Service issued a press release of its own detailing the event held at the White House, noting that the stamp's issuance is meant to celebrate the centennial anniversary of Mrs. Bush's birth.
Acting Postmaster Doug Tulino shared the agency's enthusiasm for the unveiling, declaring, “Today we recognize Mrs. Bush not only as a beloved first lady, but as a remarkable American in her own right.”
Tulino added, “She charted a legacy for herself and did it with conviction, determination, and compassion.”
Sales of the stamp were set to begin this weekend in panes of 20, with the official 2005 White House portrait of Mrs. Bush taking center stage.
The Postal Service further noted that a dedication ceremony for the stamp will be held on June 10 in Kennebunkport, Maine at a cherished Bush family location known as Ganny's Garden.
Mrs. Trump was the sole representative of the first couple at the event honoring Mrs. Bush, as the president himself did not attend, a decision also made by former President George W. Bush and wife, Laura Bush.
Whether these absences were due to ongoing hostility between the Bushes and Mr. Trump, scheduling conflicts, or something else entirely is an open question likely to go unanswered.
President Donald Trump is looking to grant Greenland special status in a Compact of Free Association agreement, Reuters reported. The president has made it known that the strategically located island nation is important to the U.S.
The COFA is a type of agreement commonly used to foster friendly ties with Pacific Island nations. Much of what's contained in the agreements is not made known to the public.
However, nations typically receive benefits such as military protection and services ranging from emergency management to mail delivery. In return, the U.S. gets free trade without tariffs while the U.S. military is allowed to operate from the islands.
Trump has been looking to acquire Greenland since his first administration, and continued his overtures after taking office again in January. Even with this potential agreement, it's unclear whether the country will go along with it.
The Trump-created National Security Council and the National Energy Dominance Council have been putting together the deal on Trump's behalf. The National Economic Council is also involved in crafting a COFA that Greenland would readily sign on to.
While such an agreement seems attractive and easily sold to Greenland, the reality is that there are many challenges ahead. Firstly, the agreement would eliminate Trump's ultimate goal of making Greenland part of the U.S.
Moreover, it may be difficult to arrange a COFA with Greenland because it's still a territory of Denmark, even if it is considered autonomous. Greenland would likely have to sever its relationship with Denmark before signing on.
It's not that Greenland doesn't want its independence from Denmark, but instead that it doesn't necessarily want to be controlled by any entity, including the U.S. The island nation has a population of about 57,000, but a COFA agreement would not make them citizens.
Finally, COFAs for island nations such as the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau haven't yielded expected results. The U.S. cozied up to the nations to ally against China, but that hasn't stopped officials in places like Palau from opening up amicable relations with China.
Earlier this week, Trump doubled down on expressing his desire to acquire Greenland. "We need Greenland very badly. Greenland is a very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of and we’ll cherish them and all of that, but we need that for international security," Trump said.
Still, this talk about getting Greenland on board may be a moot point if reports about the U.S. spying are correct. According to Fox News, information recently emerged suggesting American intelligence gathering operations were occurring in Greenland.
On Friday, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said, "You cannot spy against an ally" when asked about it in the press. "Cooperation about defense, deterrence, and security in the northern part of Europe is getting more and more important," Frederiksen said.
American officials were in contact to attempt to smooth over relations, but Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen made it clear that this was unacceptable. Nielsen said Greenland "will never, ever be a piece of property that can be bought by just anyone," and furthermore, that "the talks from the United States have not been respectful."
Trump wants so much to get his way with Greenland. Unfortunately, it seems that the more time that goes on and the more things that happen, the prospect becomes more remote by the day.
President Donald Trump ordered the termination of Library of Congress head Carla Hayden just one year before her ten-year term was ending.
Hayden has been serving in the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution since 2016, when she was nominated by former President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate.
The reason for Hayden's firing appears to be related to her pushing of “radical” leftist agendas, according to complaints from conservative organizations.
A tweet from the American Accountability Foundation claimed that "The current #LibrarianOfCongress Carla Hayden is woke, anti-Trump, and promotes trans-ing kids. It’s time to get her OUT and hire a new guy for the job!"
That tweet went out hours before Trump's decision to fire Hayden was announced on Thursday night, suggesting that the White House is working with conservative watchdogs to sniff out radical leftists at every level.
In further evidence that Hayden is an agent of the progressive agenda, her firing was greeted with outrage from Democrats who flew into a rage over Trump's decision to fire a seemingly unimportant federal official.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) was one of the first to come out to blast Trump's decision as "unjust" and an attempt to "whitewash" American history.
Jeffries railed against Trump by saying, “Donald Trump’s unjust decision to fire Dr. Hayden in an email sent by a random political hack is a disgrace and the latest in his ongoing effort to ban books, whitewash American history and turn back the clock. The Library of Congress is the People’s Library. There will be accountability for this unprecedented assault on the American way of life sooner rather than later."
Jeffries claims that Trump's firing of Hayden is an "unprecedented assault" on Americans' way of life, implying that progressive ideas like transitioning children are as American as apple pie.
Other Democrats quickly came to Hayden's defense, further lending credence to the idea that Hayden is a leftist ideologue using her position to push horrible progressive ideas.
Hayden has vigorously opposed parental rights groups' efforts to remove books about sexual identity containing explicit sexual content targeted at young people from libraries.
In defending pornographic books being distributed to children, Hayden wrote, "A children's book, and that's so helpful. I've had parents that I even work with, it just makes such a difference when you can share a book with a young person."
Leftists have pushed explicit sexual material and books containing progressive propaganda disguised as "sexual identity" education for years, and it's long past time for them to face serious consequences.
Hayden clearly endorses these ideas and, as such, has no place in the federal government. The fact that Democrats are so angry about her firing further demonstrates that she was doing real damage and had to be rooted out.
Carla Hayden was recently removed from her role as Librarian of Congress by President Donald Trump through an abrupt email notification on Thursday, Breitbart reported. Her unanticipated departure has elicited criticism from several notable Democrats, who have recognized her significant contributions and raised questions about the rationale behind her sudden dismissal.
Carla Hayden's term was initially appointed by President Barack Obama in 2016, with the expectation of serving a renewable decade-long term; her dismissal came one year before her term's natural conclusion.
Hayden has made history as the first woman and the first African American to lead the Library of Congress. Her appointment in 2016 marked a departure from tradition, as she is the first professional librarian to hold the position in many decades, a role typically filled by historians and scholars.
The decision to remove Carla Hayden has sparked disquiet among several Democrats, who have been vocal about their disapproval. In a terse, two-sentence message sent on behalf of President Trump, the White House deputy director of presidential personnel informed Hayden that she was being dismissed effective immediately. This communication was confirmed by the Library of Congress spokesperson, who offered no additional remarks on the matter.
Hayden previously served as the head of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore. Her career also includes her time as president of the American Library Association from 2003 to 2004. Her leadership and expertise have had a lasting impact on the field of librarianship, garnering her respect within the community.
The dismissal has prompted a strong response from Democratic leaders. Representative Hakeem Jeffries has condemned the manner of Hayden's removal, characterizing the decision as "unjust" and criticizing the method in which it was executed. He accused President Trump of continuing efforts to undermine American history and literature.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer praised Hayden's tenure, referring to her as a trailblazer of high regard. He voiced his indignation succinctly with "Enough is enough," emphasizing Hayden's stature as a notable figure in public service and scholarship.
Representative Rosa DeLauro from Connecticut also weighed in, describing the dismissal as "callous" and calling for an explanation from the Trump administration. The Library of Congress, known as the largest library globally, has remained a quintessential part of American history since its establishment in 1800. Acting as the research arm of Congress, it supports the nation's lawmakers with an expansive array of resources.
Dr. Hayden's influence stretches beyond her administrative duties. Her advocacy for libraries and access to knowledge underscores the importance of her work. Her role was pivotal in bringing the Library of Congress into a more digital and inclusive era, focusing on broadening accessibility and modernizing its vast collections.
This unexpected dismissal could have broader implications for federal appointments and how such changes are communicated. The precedent set by the manner of communication—via a brief email—has left many wondering about the professionalism and decorum of these processes within the current administration.
Critics argue that the lack of transparency and the rapidity of the process undermine the stability of such esteemed positions. For many, Hayden's removal from office raises concerns about the shifting priorities within governmental roles connected to cultural and educational advancement.
The Library of Congress, under Hayden's guidance, has embarked on several initiatives to engage with the public more dynamically. Her sudden removal leaves questions about the continuity of these projects and who might lead them going forward.
The political backdrop of Hayden's dismissal adds another layer of complexity. As discussions continue, the identity of her successor remains an open question, with the potential to influence the strategic direction of the Library of Congress for years to come.
In wrapping up, Hayden's firing exemplifies an intensifying political landscape in Washington, where collegiality and respect for tenure appear to be overshadowed by contentious dismissals. The conversation sparked by this development is likely to continue, highlighting the importance of the Library of Congress and the roles it plays in shaping American thought and policy.
For many, Hayden's legacy as a pioneering leader in the world of libraries remains significant, even as her tenure is brought to an unanticipated early conclusion. As her supporters stand firm in advocating for her achievements, the discourse surrounding her dismissal might prompt new reflections on how the roles of key cultural and educational institutions are managed at the federal level.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Shows president during 'Fight, fight, fight' moment after 2024 assassination attempt
In what appears to be a miniature of an eventual nine-foot statue, a small sculpture depicting a pivotal point in President Trump's life was spied on display in the Oval Office Friday.
The piece of art, approximately a foot tall, shows the moment Trump stood up after being shot in the ear in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July as he raised his fist and shouted, "Fight, fight, fight!"
Surrounding him are the Secret Service agents who hurried the then-candidate off the outdoor rally stage, including current chief of the agency, Sean Curran.
Though the White House has not addressed the added piece of artwork, it appears to be a maquette of a proposed statue in the works by artist Stan Watts of the Trump Statue Project, an effort creating a nine-foot replica to honor the president.
"This powerful image, embodying 'Confidence, Strength, and Hope,' will be immortalized in this nine-foot-tall statue," the group's website reads. "It symbolizes the divine intervention as well as the man and his message of unity and resilience for which America stands."
As reported by the New York Post, the Oval Office statue isn't the only piece of art related to the Butler assassination attempt on display at the White House.
Last month, a new painting – an artistic interpretation of one of the iconic images captured by New York Times photographer Doug Mills in Butler – was revealed to be hanging in a prominent spot in the Grand Foyer of the East Wing of the executive mansion.
The artwork, painted by Marc Lipp, also depicts Trump with blood splattered across his face and the American flag in the background, raising his fist after the shooting.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
For years, Democrats have schemed and tried to put President Donald Trump in prison.
And have failed.
So perhaps Elon Musk should not really be worried, despite a new polling that shows more than 7 of 10 in the party would support a hypothetical law that would do that to him.
The results are from Rasmussen, which said, "Since he agreed to lead President Donald Trump's effort to reduce government waste, Elon Musk has become so hated by liberals that they would overwhelmingly favor a law to put the high-tech billionaire behind bars."
Musk, in fact, is running Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, cutting government spending, jobs, waste, fraud and corruption. Billions have been saved already, despite an active campaign by district judges across the country to foil Trump's taxpayer-benefitting program.
The results come from a telephone and online survey by Rasmussen in coordination with the Heartland Institute.
Overall, 54% of Likely Voters "would support a hypothetical law that would imprison Musk for his role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), including 39% who would Strongly Support such a law. Thirty-six percent (36%) oppose a law that would send Musk to prison, including 26% who Strongly Oppose it, while 10% are not sure."
Democrats, who lost the 2024 presidential election by landslides in the popular vote and the Electoral College vote both, were literally lining up to condemn Musk.
"Seventy-one percent (71%) of Democrats would favor a hypothetical law to put Musk behind bars, as would 80% of self-identified liberal voters. Fifty-four percent (54%) of Republicans and 57% of conservative voters. would oppose such a law. Among voters not affiliated with either major party, 52% would support a law to imprison Musk for his role in DOGE, 34% would oppose it and 17% are not sure," the pollster said.
Justin Haskins, of the Heartland Institiute, said, "The fact that a majority of Democratic voters would support imprisoning Elon Musk for trying to make government more efficient is a shocking indictment of the modern left, which has become increasingly more tyrannical in recent years.
"We've reached a point where many Americans would rather unjustly punish innovation than fix the broken systems Musk was trying to reform."
The survey of 1,067 U.S. Likely Voters was done April 30-May 4, 2025 by Rasmussen Reports and the Heartland Institute. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-CA) wealth is coming under fresh scrutiny as members of Congress once again float a ban on letting lawmakers trade stock -- with President Donald Trump voicing support for such restrictions.
The PELOSI Act, proposed by Republican Sen. Josh Hawley (MO), would bar members of Congress and their family members from trading most stocks.
Pelosi's remarkable success at beating the market has long raised eyebrows, placing her at the center of a recurring debate on banning Congress from the stock market.
The California Democrat has defended her right to participate in the stock market on free market principles, despite her access to privileged information.
The influential lawmaker is among the wealthiest members of Congress, deriving most of her fortune from her husband's investments.
Hawley, in an interview with Breitbart, said that it strains credulity to assert Pelosi acquired her millions through honest means.
"And here’s the thing, Nancy Pelosi and her husband last year, in 2024, beat every hedge fund in the nation, practically. So, either Nancy Pelosi is a mathematical and financial analyst genius… or maybe, maybe the information that she’s privy to turns out to be pretty darn valuable," Hawley said.
“And everybody knows it’s the second thing. It’s just outrageous,” he added.
Hawley's bill comes with strict disclosure requirements, and it also bans lawmakers and their family members from trading individual stocks, so the Pelosis would be noticeably affected. Lawmakers could still invest in diversified mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, or U.S. Treasury bonds.
“If you’re a member of Congress, you shouldn’t be up here day trading,” Hawley said. “You should be focused on your job.”
“If they violate the provisions, if they trade individual stock, if they own individual stock, they have to disgorge all of the profits and pay a financial penalty on top,” Hawley explained. “That’s the only way we’re going to get this stopped,” he said.
While the public broadly supports moves like Hawley's, Congress has -- not surprisingly -- shown little sustained interest in regulating itself. But the momentum could shift with Trump back in the White House.
The fact that one of his worst enemies is the public face of insider trading in Washington could motivate Trump to act. Of course, Trump has much bigger priorities, and Congress still needs to make the first move.
“Well, I watched Nancy Pelosi get rich through insider information, and I would be okay with it. If they send that to me, I would do it,” Trump told TIME magazine.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
The librarian for the library of Congress, appointed years back by Barack Obama, has been fired.
President Donald Trump took the action because of "concerning things that she had done … in pursuit of DEI and putting inappropriate books in the library for children."
Librarians for years already in local public facilities, in schools from grade school to high school, and elsewhere, frequently have been caught pushing the LGBT agenda, especially the transgender ideology that blossomed under Joe Biden's tenure, and the "diversity, equity and inclusion" ideology that discriminates based on sex and race, through the books they buy and hand out to children.
Communities often have resisted the leftist ideologies, and sometimes have won local battles, while sometimes librarians have won local battles by citing constitutional rights.
A report at USA Today said Carla Hayden, the librarian, was dismissed via email, drawing backlash from leftists.
Said Rep. Joe Morelle, a New York Democrat, "President Trump's ignorant decision will impact America's libraries, our copyrighted economic interests, and service to the American people by threatening support for Congress. His decision is a complete disgrace."
Another politician of the same belief system, Democrat Ed Markey of Massachusetts, said, "Donald Trump just fired my dear friend Dr. Carla Hayden — the Librarian of Congress — via email. This is disgraceful. The Library of Congress represents some of the best America has to offer. Equal access to learning for all."
Librarians often cite the First Amendment and Equal Access in their arguments for pushing their own leftist agendas. However, the First Amendment and Equal Access both have recognized limits when it comes to obscene material, pornography, threats to children and the like.
Hayden was placed in office in 2016 by a leftist president, Obama.
The facility houses more than 178 million items and artifacts, including books, musical instruments, photographs and more.
The personnel move was confirmed by an official with the library, and publications documented her notification said, "Carla, On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as the Librarian of Congress is terminated effective immediately. Thank you for your service."
It was from Deputy Director of Presidential Personnel Trent Morse.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said the decision was based on the fact, "We felt she did not fit the needs of the American people."
Specifically, she cited "inappropriate books" that Hayden had been pushing, as well as her advocacy for the leftist DEI agenda of discrimination, which requires employees to be hired not for their job skills but because they are a certain sex, gender or race.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Pollsters and pundits long have labeled Barack Obama as one of the most "popular" presidents of recent times.
He bragged while being nominated of plans to "fundamentally" change the nation, and then in office accomplished much toward that goal, weaponizing federal power against perceived political opponents, demanding Christians give up their religious rights on issues like abortion, orchestrating a government takeover over of massive parts of the nation's economy, and installing hundreds, perhaps thousands, of leftist extremists in key government posts.
But now a report shows that Donald Trump's popularity rivals Obama's, and the Republican president's policies even outshine those of the Illinois politician who jumped from Chicago to Washington by defeating Hillary Clinton for the Democrat nomination that year.
It is in a report in the Washington Examiner that columnist Paul Bedard explains, "President Donald Trump's approval ratings are paralleling those of former President Barack Obama's at the start of his second term, and the Republican's policies are even more popular than he is, giving him room to grow his poll numbers."
He cites three new surveys showing Trump's approval rating now is better than it was at the close of his first term.
"And a new element of those polls is that his policies are even more popular, suggesting that he can increase his personal approval rating above 50%," the report said.
Mark Mitchell of Rasmussen Reports explained, "His policies are more popular than he is," and Mark Penn of Harvard Caps-Harris Poll assured, "I think he's got room to grow it."
The report said a Big Data Poll put Trump's approval at 48% and his favorability at 51%, signally that voters continue to "give the president space as he pushes through with his economic and immigration agenda."
"If these economic concerns turn out to be unjustified, we should all expect the president's numbers to rebound, perhaps sharply," pollster Rich Baris said.
Rasmussen confirmed Trump's approval is tracking Obama's "at the same stage of a second term, and he predicted that the president could do better."
And Mitchell said Trump probably is going to "trace a little higher than that."
Penn explained, during an interview with Maria Bartiromo, the fact is the public approves of Trump's policies even more than they approve of him.
"If I say, 'Do you approve with what the president is doing on immigration,' 51% say 'Yes.' But when I say, 'Do you favor or oppose some of the policies that he's implementing,' close to 70% say 'Yes,'" Penn said.
He said that all suggests Trump's popularity to move up to 55%, or even 60%, "which is where you want to get to."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
There have been outbreaks of Christian revival in America over recent months. Evening services turned into days-long prayer events. Churches launching 24-7 prayer campaigns that actually have people praying around the clock. Even similar worship programs that have been going on for months now.
And now there's a new sign of a revival spirit developing: Thousands of people baptized in the "largest synchronized baptism" in the nation.
That's according to a report from CBN.
The publication called in "another sign of the incredible spiritual movement shaping America."
It was when thousands stood on the shores of Huntington Beach and got baptized for the "world to know" they had decided to commit their lives to Jesus Christ.
The Baptize California campaign's first event, last year, saw some 12,000 baptized, through the coordinated work of some 300 churches.
"This year 7,752 people were baptized in the ocean and baptismal horse troughs throughout the day. Over the course of the 10-hour event, nearly 30,000 people worshipped Jesus and witnessed hundreds of lives changed through the gospel message," the report said.
Mark Francey, a pastor at Ocean Church, told CBN, "Jesus Christ is working again from the beaches of California, awakening a generation, uniting the church to reach the ends of the earth."
Hundreds of churches have joined in the effort.
CBN noted, "One powerful redemption story that took center stage was of Sammy 'The Bull' Gravano. Gravano was once the notorious underboss of the Gambino crime family, but recently gave his life over to Jesus Christ."
He explained in a video he released, "I ran with the streets, led one of the most powerful crime families in America…but none of that gave me true peace. I always believed in God but this time, it was different. This time, I surrendered."
Ocean Church launched what then was called Baptize SoCal in 2023, and that event involved some 280 churches and 4,166 people being baptized.
The plan always has been to expand across the nation.
Francey told CBN, "God is not done with America and California. If this can happen in California, it can spread across America."