This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

President Donald Trump unleashed his disdain on a top network reporter Monday who asked him about Qatar gifting America with a $400 million 747 aircraft that may be used as the new Air Force One until shortly before he leaves office.

"What do you say to people who view that luxury jet as a personal gift to you?" ABC News senior political correspondent Rachel Scott asked Trump during a signing ceremony for an executive order designed to slash prices for prescription drugs. "Why not leave it behind?"

Trump instantly responded with an attack on Scott and her network, saying: "You're ABC Fake News right? Because only ABC – well, a few of you would. Let me tell you. You should be embarrassed asking that question.

"They're giving us a free jet. I could say no, no, no, don't give us … I want to pay you $1 billion or $400 million or whatever it is or I could say thank you very much."

He then discussed an anecdote concerning pro golfer Sam Snead.

"He had a motto, when they give you a putt, you say, thank you very much. You pick up your ball and you walk to the next hole," Trump recounted.

"A lot of people are stupid. They say, no, no, I insist on putting it. And then they put it, they miss it, and their partner gets angry at them. You know what? Remember that Sam Snead, when they give you a putt, you pick it up and you walk to the next hole and you say, thank you very much."

Scott continued to press the matter, but was cut off by Trump as she asked: "Respectfully, sir, as a businessman, some people may look at this and say, have you ever been given a gift worth millions of dollars and then not …"

"It's not a gift to me," Trump replied. "It's a gift to the Department of Defense and you should know better because you've been embarrassed enough and so has your network. Your network is a disaster. ABC is a disaster."

Regarding the offer of the aircraft, Trump said: "I think it's a great gesture from Qatar. Appreciate it very much. I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer."

"I mean, I could be a stupid person and say, No, we don't want a free, very expensive airplane. But it was, I thought it was a great gesture."

"I think it was a gesture because of the fact that we help, have helped, and continue to, we will continue to all of those countries, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and others," he continued.

 

House Speaker Mike Johnson was asked by ABC about the gift, to which he responded: "I'm not going to comment on it."

"I haven't seen all the details about it."

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

The leader of political opposition to Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro says Americans now have "a business opportunity of $1.7 trillion" in her country if the dictator is ousted from power, and she predicts communist regimes in Cuba and Nicaragua will soon fall once he's gone.

"We will turn Venezuela from the criminal hub of the Americas into energy hub of the Americas," Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said on "Sunday Morning Futures" with Maria Bartiromo on the Fox News Channel.

"I'm talking about a business opportunity of $1.7 trillion. This is unique. … This is a win-win partnership when we are all free."

"I want to be very clear," continued Machado, who has been in hiding for nine months. "Maduro is weaker than ever, totally rejected by 90% of the people, internationally isolated and now with fractures within the regime."

Machado praised the leadership of U.S. President Donald Trump, and said: "Venezuela will be free. Venezuela will be a reliable partner of the U.S."

"We will kick out Iranian forces and agents, the Hezbollah that have turned Venezuela into a base, an operational base of the Iranian regime. And we will build a partnership to create a security shield for the Americas for the stability of the region and also for the national security of the U.S."

Regarding economic matters, Machado said: "Under Maduro, Venezeulans' oil and energy has collapsed. These companies operating in Venezuela are forced to partner with a criminal structure, with a drug cartel. They are giving to Maduro and that means giving money for the drug cartels for the operations and enforcing the criminal gangs like Tren de Aragua that are operating all across the continent."

"President Trump's position is the right one. We need to move forward cut these sources going to the criminals. … Remember Maduro is the head of the Tren de Aragua."

She predicted that once "Maduro's out, believe me, the Cuban and Nicaraguan regime will follow, and for the first time in history, we will have a continent free of communism and dictatorship. This is historic."

Machado described the harsh conditions living under Maduro's dictatorship, noting, "Minimum wages in Venezuela are $1.5 dollars a month. Our children go to school only twice a week.

"No journalist is able to speak. Young people have been put in prison just for putting a post on X or Instagram or of they have my picture in their phones. So that is why people leave. They're forced to leave to save their lives."

"Once we have free Venezuela, we will not only dismantle all those criminal gangs … we will turn Venezuela into open markets and greatest opportunities for all."

When asked if she and her cohorts were afraid, Machado replied, "Of course we are."

"We have more than 900 political prisoners right now that have been tortured, women that have been sexually assaulted. It's brutal but the fact is that we're moving forward. And the fact that we have this unwavering support from President Trump makes things move ahead."

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

'Federal law is clear. Religious liberty is not optional – it's protected'

A teenager employed by a major corporation under a special high school training program has been fired for observing the Sabbath and attending church.

And the legal team at the American Center for Law and Justice is coming to his defense.

The organization reported this fight is over "Eli," who as a teen was "unjustly fired by General Electric for going to church to observe a Sabbath day."

Eli was described as a devout Christian who has faithfully observed a weekly Sabbath for as long as he can remember.

"He informed his employer of his sincerely held religious practice and repeatedly requested a reasonable accommodation: to have his Sabbath day off from work. Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, employers are legally required to reasonably accommodate an employee's religious beliefs unless doing so would pose an undue hardship," the ACLJ report said.

GE claimed the case involved "an undue hardship" but was unable to identify what that hardship would be.

"GE told Eli, in no uncertain terms, that if he did not show up to work on Saturdays, the day of his Sabbath, he would be fired. Eli remained true to his faith – and GE followed through on its threat and fired Eli on the day of his high school graduation. He was fired for what they labeled as 'attendance issues' – a pretext for punishing him for practicing his religion," the report said.

The report said Eli's case now is in mediation with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and because of ongoing delays the ACLJ has joined the case.

"We are fighting to hold GE accountable for its discriminatory actions and to ensure that Eli receives justice," the report said. "No one should be forced to choose between their job and their faith – especially a teenager.

"Employers must provide reasonable accommodations for religious practices unless doing so would cause undue hardship, which is a high bar under the law. In Eli's case, there was no indication that honoring his Sabbath accommodation would have caused an undue hardship."

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

It's like "a winning lottery ticket."

That's the circumstance for a man who owns a Chicago home, a fixer-upper that he had on the market for $200,000.

But it's no longer on the market, and certainly not at that price, after he found the small brick structure was the childhood home of Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV.

The New York Post explained the details.

"[The real-estate agent] called me and said, 'Hey, the pope used to live in your house.' I'm like, 'Stop joking,'" explained Pawel Radzik, who flips properties and was ready to unload the home for $200,000.

"I'm going to keep it for now. I'm excited. … I'm lucky to have it," he said.

Realtor Steve Budzik told The Post, "It's like a winning lottery ticket."

The home actually is in Dolton, Illinois, and reports say it was home to some drug dealers a few years ago, after the Prevost family sold it.

Radzik then bought it last year and fixed up and listed it for sale more than three months ago.

Now, he confirmed to the Post, he's raising the price before it goes back on the market.

Curiously, on Thursday alone, he got four offers on the structure.

The Post described the home as a "modest-looking 1,200-square-foot abode — which the pope's family bought in 1949, paying a $42 monthly mortgage."

Real estate listings prominently displayed an "off market" notation about the property.

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

White smoke has been seen above the Sistine Chapel, indicating that the 133 voting cardinals of the Catholic Church, meeting at the Vatican have chosen a new pope.

He is Robert Francis Prevost, 69, the first American to serve as leader of the Catholic Church, who is taking the name Pope Leo XIV. Originally from Chicago, until now Prevost was the head of the church's Dicastery for Bishops.

According to CBS News, Prevost is seen overall as a centrist, though on some key social issues he's viewed as progressive. He holds dual citizenship with Peru, where he spent many years of his career.

The church officials spent two days selecting a new church chief, meaning that the new pope took little time to impress his peers in the secretive process.

Francis and Benedict XVI were both revealed in the evening of the conclave's second day, while John Paul II, the longest-reigning pope of modern times, was selected on the third day in 1978.

Francis' tenure was celebrated during a funeral only two weeks ago, an event that drew 250,000 people including President Donald Trump.

He was buried in the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome.

Cardinal Re lauded the "mercy and the joys of the gospel" that were Francis' priorities, "in contrast to the culture of waste."

"He often reminded us… that we all belong to the same human family and that no one is saved alone," Re said.

Prevost is the first-ever American pope and the College of Cardinals made the announcement with the statement, "Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum; habemus papam!" — in English, "I announce to you a great joy: We have a pope!"

Prevost was born in Chicago, graduated from Villanova, and spent years as a missionary and then archbishop in Peru.

He opened his conversation with Catholics, and the rest of the world, with, "Peace be with you."

The Washington Examiner reported early favorites had included Luis Tagle from the Philippines and Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, and the final choice likely was an accommodation among the lobbying groups.

President Donald Trump said, "Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!"

Francis had been pope for some 12 years.

Eric Scheidler, executive director of the Pro-Life Action League, said, "As a Catholic, as a pro-life advocate, and as a Chicagoan, I joyfully celebrate the election of Pope Leo XIV. Prior to his elevation to the papacy, Cardinal Prevost spent much of his life and ministry in my hometown and the Pro-Life Action League's headquarter city of Chicago, so I feel a special closeness to him in that regard. As a pro-life activist, I am also deeply heartened to know that our new pope holds strong pro-life convictions as evidenced by his words in a recent homily: 'God's mercy calls us to protect every life, especially those society overlooks—the child yet to be born and the elderly nearing their journey's end—because each bears Christ's face.' I look forward to serving the Church under Pope Leo's leadership for many years to come."

Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life, said, "The pro-life movement would not have the strong presence it has today if it were not for the Catholic faithful. We have been blessed over the years with popes who have been fundamental in creating a Culture of Life.

"St. John Paul II issued the Evangelium Vitae, an encyclical which reaffirmed the universal right to life for all people. Pope Benedict XVI was an advocate of the right to life and followed the footsteps of his predecessor in keeping the right to life at the forefront of Catholic teaching. Pope Francis, like his predecessors, was a strong advocate for the value and dignity of every human life, from conception to natural death. We look forward to Pope Leo XIV continuing the work of his predecessors in his dedication to the right to life and championing the most vulnerable among us."

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat and no fan of Donald Trump, was captured on video in the Oval Office Monday during an event with the president, expressing obvious discomfort as he hammered Joe Biden over his lax immigration policies.

The setting was the announcement that the NFL Draft in 2027 would be held in Washington, D.C. Also present were NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and other officials.

In an X post featuring the video, country musician John Rich noted, "This is hysterical. Look at the Mayor of DC's body language, she's about to spontaneously combust."

Bowser's participation started positively, as RedState reported.

"We are delighted to be here with the Washington Commanders, the NFL, and the president to talk about this very exciting announcement for Washington, D.C.," she said. "We believe in investing in sports because they have helped us transform neighborhoods."

But once Trump began criticizing his predecessor, the mayor's face betrayed her discomfort.

The mayor's awkward looks follow an Oval Office appearance last month by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in which she held a blue binder in front of her face, apparently embarrassed by her presence in MAGA Central: Donald Trump's Oval Office.

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

A top Republican in Congress who until recently was President Donald Trump's nominee to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations is identifying "the worst governor in America" as the chief of her home state of New York.

"Kathy Hochul is the worst governor in America," said U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., the House Republican leadership chairwoman who herself is strongly considering a run for governor of the Empire State.

"I dubbed that of Andrew Cuomo, not thinking anybody could make it worse. Kathy Hochul makes the impossible possible. She is the worst governor and it's showing in her poor, abysmal approval ratings," Stefanik said on "Sunday Morning Futures" with Maria Bartiromo on the Fox News Channel.

Stefanik made the cover of the New York Post on Sunday, with a banner headline of "The Right Stef," declaring that she's the "strongest" potential challenger to the "failed" Hochul.

When asked about her aspirations to replace the current Democrat with herself, Stefanik replied: "Absolutely, I am strongly considering, because look at the crises that Kathy Hochul and single-party Democrat rule have delivered to New York, and this has been over a period of decades.

"We have an economic crisis and an affordability crisis. If you look we are the highest tax state in the nation. We lead the nation in outmigration, in people who are leaving the state because it's so unaffordable.

"We are also the most anti-energy state in the country. You have a ban on fracking and you go over the border, when you look at the southern tier, where there's such economic malaise and despair. You got to Pennsylvania, and you see boom in these small towns.

"In addition, you have a sanctuary city, pro-illegal policies in New York State where they prioritize illegals under Democrats rather than law-abiding New Yorkers.

"And then, of course, Maria, you have the crime crisis. This is a result of Kathy Hochul's failed bail reform where they turn their backs on hardworking law-enforcement officers. They prioritize the criminals to the point where they're even releasing criminals onto our streets, releasing illegals onto our streets.

"So New Yorkers, not just Republicans, independents and Democrats as well, are yearning for a new generation of leadership to bring common-sense leadership back to our state. So absolutely I'm taking a hard look at it and the outpouring of support has been tremendous."

Stefanik has been a recent champion to protect Jewish students at college campuses across the nation, and she blasted the current New York governor's failure to do so.

"Kathy Hochul has failed to protect not just Jewish students, but Jewish families in the state of New York," Stefanik said.

"There is anti-Semitism raging in our streets, and there needs to be a zero-tolerance policy from the governor of New York like there is from the president of the United States."

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

Under the "a picture is worth a thousand words" category, the office of the U.S. Trade Representative posted a chart on X Saturday showing the steep decline in the percentage of apparel sold in America that is also manufactured in America.

Part of President Trump's tariff strategy is to make it more economically feasible for clothing manufacturers to make their products in the United States.

The post reads: "Reviving apparel production in America is not a pipe dream. It was not that long ago we were manufacturing 56% of U.S. apparel in America. 'Made in America' is an economic and national security priority of this administration."

"@POTUS' trade actions are ushering in a reshoring renaissance as companies pledge billions of dollars to expand U.S. manufacturing."

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

Officials in an Illinois town have been accused of adopting an "unwritten policy: Pro-life voices are not welcome in public spaces."

And they'll face a court judgment for their "unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination," according to the American Center for Law and Justice.

The lawsuit against Carbondale, Illinois, alleges the city has gone into unconstitutional territory by censoring residents' speech in their signs.

"We argue that the city's ordinance is unconstitutionally vague and arbitrarily enforced. Worse still, the city is applying the law in a discriminatory fashion to silence religious and pro-life speech," the ACLJ explained.

Their client "wasn't just threatened with enforcement – he was outright denied the ability to even apply for a permit that the ordinance specifically allows for nonprofits like his. This is a textbook case of unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination, enforcing a policy in one way for some people and another way for others."

The legal team said the dispute arose over efforts by a pastor and his parishioners who were being targeted with criminal citations by police "just for having pro-life signs."

The ACLJ said it de-escalated that, and followed up with a letter, which the city "completely ignored."

"That is why we have now filed a federal lawsuit to protect the constitutional rights of Brandon – a sidewalk counselor who believes his mission field is to proclaim the Gospel and minister to women in crisis pregnancies – who was threatened with a citation and possible arrest for having pro-life signs on public property outside of an abortion clinic."

The situation happened when the founder of a pro-life sidewalk counseling ministry "was peacefully advocating for life outside an abortion clinic in Carbondale. He was joined by other pro-life advocates. They carried small yard signs offering free baby supplies and life-affirming messages such as 'We will adopt your baby' and 'Love your preborn neighbor as yourself.'
That's when the trouble began."

The city's lawyer ordered another city official to tell Brandon that "all signs" were prohibited.

That's even though the city's own ordinance allows them.

"Brandon was informed that unless he removed the signs immediately, the police would be called, and he could face a citation and the confiscation of his property. When Brandon asserted that he had the right to demonstrate against abortion under the First Amendment, the city's representative flippantly told him, 'No, you don't.'"

When Brandon applied for a permit, under the city's own requirements, he was refused again.

The demand letter, the ACLJ said, "made it clear that Brandon's speech was constitutionally protected, the city's ordinance was unconstitutionally vague and chilled First Amendment speech when applied, and the city's treatment of our client amounted to viewpoint discrimination."

From the city? Nothing.

"Their silence speaks volumes. Carbondale's officials have effectively adopted an unwritten policy: Pro-life voices are not welcome in public spaces," the ACLJ said.

So it has filed a federal lawsuit against the city, its lawyer and others, seeking to protect Brandon's constitutional rights.

"This is a textbook case of unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination, enforcing a policy in one way for some people and another way for others," the legal team said.

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

Colorado, with its Democrat governor, Democrat House, Democrat Senate and Democrat state Supreme Court, which flagrantly tried to impose its own politics and ban President Donald Trump from the 2024 ballot only to get slammed by the U.S. Supreme Court, has turned itself into a haven for leftists.

And as leftists are apt to do, sometimes they go too far.

As it has now with a new gun restriction.

A report from broadcaster KDVR-TV explained a list of elected officials representing the Centennial State in Congress, as well as a list of sheriffs, are asking Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate the state for violating the Constitution.

The Colorado State Shooting Association organized the letter that cites the law that also is the target of a lawsuit.

"We respectfully request that the Second Amendment Enforcement Task Force launch a thorough investigation into Colorado's anti-Second Amendment agenda," the letter explained.

Bondi had confirmed the creation of that task force just a short time earlier.

Its goal is to advance President Donald Trump's "pro-gun agenda and protect gun owners from overreach."

The report noted an official for the state organization, Huey Laugesen, confirmed that "tens of thousands" of voters' signatures already had been collected in protest of the leftist ideology adopted by Democrats.

"When we have government coming in and putting in insurmountable obstacles for a lot of people, and particularly low-income individuals who are much more likely to be victimized by violent criminals, that's a major problem. That's some serious overreach," Laugesen said. "We won't stand for it because it's a very dangerous path that we're headed down."

Colorado repeatedly has imposed restrictions on guns and ammunition over the past few years, prompting 37 of the state's counties to declare themselves to be "Second Amendment Sanctuaries."

The newest scheme will demand that anyone seeking to buy a semiautomatic firearm with a detachable magazine, a common self-defense weapon, must buy a permit after getting a background check and special state-mandated "training."

Jared Polis, the governor, claimed, "Again we want to make sure that it was a real thing to get that learning … overall I really think this bill will make Colorado communities safer and prevent both accidents as well as reducing violence and ultimately that means saving lives while protecting our Second Amendment rights and of course holding up Colorado's proud tradition of sport shooting and hunting."

Ray Elliott, chief of the shooting association, called out the governor for his claims.

"Senate Bill 3 is not about public safety — it's a deliberate attempt to disarm law-abiding Coloradans and erode our constitutional protections. We are calling on Attorney General Bondi and the DOJ's Second Amendment Task Force to intervene and hold the State of Colorado accountable for its flagrant violations of the Second Amendment."

The letter cites the state's agenda to create a "burdensome permit-to-purchase" plan that assaults the constitutional rights of law-abiding residents.

Signers include U.S. Reps. Jeff Crank, Lauren Boebert, Jeff Hurd and Gabe Evans, along with long list of sheriffs.

Also signing the letter were all of the Republicans in Colorado's General Assembly.

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