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Trump sticking to Gaza relocation plan, as White House seems to dismiss Egyptian proposal
President Donald Trump’s vision for Gaza remains unwavering, despite ongoing regional discussions.
In a statement provided to Fox News Digital, National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes emphasized that the Egyptian proposal for Gaza’s reconstruction does not reflect the grim realities on the ground.
"The current proposal does not address the reality that Gaza is currently uninhabitable and residents cannot humanely live in a territory covered in debris and unexploded ordnance. President Trump stands by his vision to rebuild Gaza free from Hamas. We look forward to further talks to bring peace and prosperity to the region," Hughes said.
Citing a Reuters report, The Times of Israel said that talks were held on Wednesday evening between senior U.S., Egyptian, Qatari and Hamas officials. The report added that the talks between U.S. and Egyptian officials also focused on plans for the future governance of Gaza.
PRESSURED BY TRUMP’S GAZA PLAN, ARAB COUNTRIES MEET IN EGYPT TO DISCUSS ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL
The Israeli Foreign Ministry also voiced strong reservations about the Egyptian proposal, which was endorsed at a recent Arab summit in Cairo. The ministry’s statement criticized the plan for overlooking the violence of Oct. 7, 2023 and Hamas’ ongoing role in Gaza.
"The statement issued at the Emergency Summit fails to address the realities of the situation following October 7th, remaining rooted in outdated perspectives," the Israeli government said. "Notably, Hamas' brutal terrorist attack, which led to thousands of Israeli deaths and kidnappings, is not mentioned, nor is there any condemnation of this murderous terrorist entity." The Israeli response also pointed to the Arab League’s reluctance to confront Hamas, emphasizing the group's destabilizing impact and its hindrance to peace efforts.
THE HISTORY OF GAZA AMID TRUMP'S PLAN TO REBUILD ENCLAVE
However, Hamas expressed support for Egypt’s plan, with spokespersons welcoming the initiative and calling for the full allocation of resources to ensure its success. This backing underscores the challenges of any reconstruction effort in Gaza, where Hamas’ involvement poses a severe threat to both the population in Gaza and the broader region.
Egypt’s 112-page reconstruction plan envisions rebuilding Gaza in stages by 2030, with an estimated cost of $53 billion. The plan includes clearing debris and recycling rubble, part of which would be used to expand Gaza’s coastline. It also outlines the construction of hundreds of thousands of housing units, an airport, a commercial harbor, and recreational parks.
While Egyptian officials have stressed the need for a technocratic administration to govern Gaza until a reformed Palestinian Authority can take over, the plan is contingent on substantial financial backing from Gulf Arab states, which are crucial to the reconstruction’s success.
Before Trump proposed resettling Gazans outside the enclave, Egypt and other Arab states had shown little interest in Gaza's reconstruction. However, since Egypt has ruled out accepting displaced Palestinians for "national security" reasons, it now feels compelled to formulate an alternative plan. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said the proposal would enable the reconstruction of Gaza while ensuring Palestinians are able to "stay on their land without displacement."
Despite these developments, the White House and Israel continue to assert that a broader solution, one that removes Hamas from power- remains essential for achieving lasting peace and stability in the region.
Pope Francis shares first audio message since hospitalization: 'May God bless you'
Pope Francis on Thursday shared his first audio message since being hospitalized nearly three weeks ago for double pneumonia, expressing thanks to his well-wishers around the world.
Francis sent a short, two-line recorded message made at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, which was played Thursday evening at the start of the rosary in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican.
"I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers for my health from the Square," he said in a message that was translated from Spanish to English. "I accompany you from here. May God bless you and the Virgin protect you. Thank you."
The pope has shared written messages via the Vatican since being admitted to the hospital on Feb. 14, but Thursday was the first time his voice had been heard.
Francis' condition remained stable and "guarded" Thursday, a day when the pontiff did not have difficulty breathing and remained fever-free.
The pope had a "good night" and continued physical therapy at Rome’s Gemelli hospital for his third week of treatment for double pneumonia, the Vatican said Thursday.
"Today, the Holy Father dedicated himself to some work activities during the morning and afternoon, alternating rest and prayer," the Vatican said. "Before lunch, he received the Eucharist."
The next update on Francis' condition will come Saturday, the Vatican said, because of his stable condition.
"The night passed quietly; the Pope is still resting," the Holy See press office said earlier Thursday, adding that the Pope’s "clinical condition has remained stable for the last couple of days, and his doctors say he has not had more episodes of respiratory insufficiency."
The 88-year-old pope, who has chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, has been stable for two days after suffering a pair of respiratory crises on Monday. Doctors underlined that his prognosis remained guarded due to the complex picture.
In recent days, he has been sleeping with a non-invasive mechanical mask to guarantee that his lungs expand properly overnight and help his recovery. He has been transitioning to receiving oxygen with a nasal tube during the day.
The pope on Wednesday marked the start of Lent by receiving ashes on his forehead and by calling the parish priest in Gaza, the Vatican said. He also added physical therapy to his hospital routine of respiratory therapy.
The Catholic Church opened the solemn Lenten season without the pope's participation. A cardinal took his place leading a short penitential procession between two churches on the Aventine Hill and opened an Ash Wednesday sermon prepared for the pontiff with words of solidarity and thanks.
On Ash Wednesday, observant Catholics receive a sign of the cross in ashes on their foreheads, a gesture that underscores human mortality. It is an obligatory day of fasting and abstinence that signals the start of Christianity's most penitent season, leading to Easter on April 20.
The pope was supposed to attend a spiritual retreat this weekend with the rest of the Holy See hierarchy. On Tuesday, the Vatican said the retreat would go ahead without Francis but in "spiritual communion" with him. The theme, selected before Francis got sick, was "Hope in eternal life."
Pope Francis had a 'good night,' continues to rest during third week of hospital treatment for pneumonia
Pope Francis had a "good night" as he continues to rest at Rome’s Gemelli hospital for his third week of treatment for double pneumonia, the Vatican said early Thursday.
"The night passed quietly; the Pope is still resting," the Holy See press office said in a statement posted on X, adding that the Pope’s "clinical condition has remained stable for the last couple of days, and his doctors say he has not had more episodes of respiratory insufficiency."
The 88-year-old pope, who has chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, has been stable for two days after suffering a pair of respiratory crises on Monday. Doctors underlined that his prognosis remained guarded due to the complex picture.
In recent days, he has been sleeping with a non-invasive mechanical mask to guarantee that his lungs expand properly overnight and help his recovery. He has been transitioning to receiving oxygen with a nasal tube during the day.
The pope on Wednesday marked the start of Lent by receiving ashes on his forehead and by calling the parish priest in Gaza, the Vatican said. He also added physical therapy to his hospital routine of respiratory therapy.
The Catholic Church opened the solemn Lenten season without the pope's participation. A cardinal took his place leading a short penitential procession between two churches on the Aventine Hill and opened an Ash Wednesday sermon prepared for the pontiff with words of solidarity and thanks.
On Ash Wednesday, observant Catholics receive a sign of the cross in ashes on their foreheads, a gesture that underscores human mortality. It is an obligatory day of fasting and abstinence that signals the start of Christianity's most penitent season, leading to Easter on April 20.
The pope was supposed to attend a spiritual retreat this weekend with the rest of the Holy See hierarchy. On Tuesday, the Vatican said the retreat would go ahead without Francis but in "spiritual communion" with him. The theme, selected before Francis got sick, was "Hope in eternal life."
Pause in US foreign aid has UN in panic over funding cuts, Trump says world body 'not being well run'
Multiple sources told Fox News Digital that the U.N.’s Department of Global Communications may be a target for reform and even funding cuts, since it is often at odds with the U.S. and Israel.
The calls for reform come a month after President Donald Trump signed an executive order calling for a review of funding to the U.N. At the time, Trump said that the world body "has tremendous potential," but is "not being well run."
Last week, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned about cuts to U.S. spending at the U.N., stating that "going through with recent funding cuts will make the world less healthy, less safe, and less prosperous."
So far, Trump has halted new funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Administration for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and withdrew the U.S. from the U.N. Human Rights Council. On Feb. 27, the U.S. also terminated $377 million in grants with the United Nations Population Fund, which offers sexual and reproductive health services in 150 countries.
TRUMP CUTS US OFF FROM UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL, BANS UNRWA FUNDING
The U.N. media branch’s nearly 700 employees are tasked to "leverage the power of communications to tell the United Nations story to global audiences in multiple languages and platforms in order to mobilize action in support of the United Nations agenda."
Anne Bayefsky, Director of the Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust and President of Human Rights Voices, told Fox News Digital that, through the Department, "the U.S. taxpayer pays the U.N. to hire media experts and do P.R. for the purpose of blasting anti-American and antisemitic trash around the globe."
Asked whether funding the Department of Global Communications serves U.S. interests, a U.N. spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the Department performs media outreach, operates as a newswire, and hosts the Dag Hammarskjöld Library.
Many of the Department of Global Communications’ personnel, the spokesperson explained, are "based at 59 U.N. Information Centers across the world, which communicate about the U.N. and the collective will of its Member States in local languages, closer to the people that the U.N. serves."
Former member of the U.S. delegation to the U.N. Hugh Dugan told Fox News Digital that the need to use information centers "to lobby its own members on their dime in their countries speaks to the deep state to me." With U.S. public support for the U.N. declining, Dugan said the Department of Global Communications "is more than failing in its own backyard in the most consequential country for its future."
A Pew Research Center found that 52% of Americans had a favorable perspective of the U.N. as of April 2024, down from 57% in 2023.
Fox News Digital asked Under Secretary-General for Global Communications Melissa Fleming whether the Department of Global Communications is involved in oversight of communications for additional U.N. entities.
Fleming said that her department "does not have oversight, but convenes regular coordination meetings with communication colleagues from across the U.N. system to discuss crisis situations and content plans." Fleming also confirmed that the Department of Global Communications has charge of the main United Nations’ social media account.
Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of U.N. Watch, told Fox News Digital that "in terms of its regular communications, whether it's the Secretary General, or whether it's various U.N. social media accounts, are routinely engaged in anti-American and anti-Israel, and you could say, to the extent that it's demonizing the Jewish people, antisemitic messaging."
U.S. Ambassador-designate to the U.N. Elise Stefanik recently tweeted that "the days of propping up organizations at the United Nations that run counter to our interests are long gone. We will no longer fund terrorism, antisemitism, and anti-Israel hate." Stefanik was speaking at the ADL's 'NEVER IS NOW' summit.
AMERICAN CENSORED BY UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL, ACCUSED OF USING ‘DISRESPECTFUL LANGUAGE’
Fox News Digital found multiple Tweets from the U.N. Twitter account that promote a one-sided narrative of the Israel-Gaza conflict. These included a Jan. 29 Tweet in support of the UN Relief and Works Administration for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, which states that "Israeli legislation imposes massive restraints on UNRWA’s operations," but fails to note why Israel has banned UNRWA’s operations and a growing number of countries have pulled funding from the terror-tied organization.
A Dec. 27 World Health Organization Tweet retweeted by the United Nations said that a raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital was part of a "systematic dismantling of the health system in Gaza," but did not mention that the Israel Defense Forces entered the facility to apprehend multiple members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, including the director, who stored weaponry inside the hospital, as terror groups have done repeatedly during the war.
Spokespersons from the U.S. State Department, U.S. Mission to the U.N., and the United Nations were unable to provide Fox News Digital with figures about what percentage of the Department of Global Communications’ more than $117.9 million budget is covered by the U.S.
In 2022, the U.S.’s $18.1 billion contribution to the U.N. covered 30% of the organization’s total budget. By 2024, U.S. contributions to the U.N. were at 22% for the general budget and 27% for the peacekeeping budget. The U.N. reports that more than 40% of humanitarian aid it donated in 2024 was provided by the U.S.
A State Department spokesperson did not answer direct questions about whether funding the Department of Global Communications serves U.S. interests, but explained that a 90-day review period instated by a Jan. 20 executive order "is a measure put in place for us to align our ongoing work with the America First agenda. The results of the in-depth review will be communicated transparently." The spokesperson said that the State "Department and USAID take their role as stewards of taxpayer dollars very seriously.
South Korean fighter jets accidentally drop bombs during training exercise, injuring multiple people
South Korean fighter jets accidentally dropped bombs on a civilian area during a live-fire training exercise with the U.S. on Thursday, injuring multiple people and damaging multiple buildings, including three houses and a Catholic church.
The MK-82 bombs "abnormally" released by the KF-16 fighter jet fell outside a firing range, causing unspecified civilian damages, the air force said in a statement.
PASSENGER PLANE CATCHES FIRE AT SOUTH KOREAN AIRPORT; ALL 176 PEOPLE ON BOARD ARE EVACUATED
Reports of the number of people injured varied, but South Korea’s Yonhap news agency put the number at 15, including civilians and soldiers. Two of the injured were serious but not life-threatening, the outlet reported. At least seven buildings were damaged.
The air force said the fighter jets were taking part in the air force's joint live-firing drills with the army. It apologized for the incident and promised to establish a committee to investigate the cause of the accident and the extent of the damage.
AT LEAST FOUR DEAD IN SOUTH KOREA HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT COLLAPSE
South Korean media reported that the accident happened in Pocheon, a city near the heavily armed border with North Korea. In a televised briefing, Pocheon Mayor Paek Young-hyun called the bombings "awful" and urged the military to halt drills in the city until it formulates reliable steps that can prevent a recurrence. He said that Pocheon, a city of 140,000 people, provides three major firing ranges for the South Korean and U.S. militaries.
The military later said it has decided to suspend all live-fire drills across South Korea. Observers say the military will resume firing exercises after it learns the exact cause of Thursday's accident and maps out steps to prevent recurrences.
Three houses, a Catholic church and a greenhouse were partially damaged but they did not appear to have been directly hit by the bombs, according to the Pocheon department.
South Korean fighter jet accidentally drops bombs during training exercise, injuring multiple people
A South Korean fighter jet accidentally dropped bombs on a civilian area during a training exercise on Thursday, injuring multiple people.
The MK-82 bombs "abnormally" released by the KF-16 fighter jet fell outside a firing range, causing unspecified civilian damages, the air force said in a statement.
PASSENGER PLANE CATCHES FIRE AT SOUTH KOREAN AIRPORT; ALL 176 PEOPLE ON BOARD ARE EVACUATED
Reports of the number of people injured varied, but South Korea’s Yonhap news agency put the number at 15, including civilians and soldiers. Two of the injured were serious but not life-threatening, the outlet reported. At least seven buildings were damaged.
The air force said the fighter jet was taking part in the air force's joint live-firing drills with the army. It apologized for the incident and promised to establish a committee to investigate the cause of the accident and the extent of the damage.
AT LEAST FOUR DEAD IN SOUTH KOREA HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT COLLAPSE
The air force has not said where the accident occurred, but South Korean media reported it happened in Pocheon, a city near the heavily armed border with North Korea.
Nearly a dozen students found dismembered by Mexico highway after vanishing on vacation
Nearly a dozen dismembered bodies, allegedly belonging to missing students vacationing in Oaxaca, Mexico, were found on Sunday near the side of a highway, according to local reports.
The body parts from at least nine people were found inside and nearby an abandoned car hidden under a blood-covered tarp, according to reports from El Financiero and Periodico Central.
A bag containing eight pairs of hands was also located.
The car was allegedly found in San José Miahuatlán, on the border of Puebla and Oaxaca, according to El Financiero.
TRUMP ADMIN REVEALS LIST OF CARTELS AND GANGS TO BE DESIGNATED TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS
Video surveillance from Feb. 24 shows the vehicle driving along the Atlixcayotl highway, about 90 miles west of where the bodies were found, Periodico Central reported.
The bodies allegedly had bullet wounds and "signs of torture," according to El Financiero.
SON OF TEXAS RANCHER SOUNDS ALARM AFTER FATHER KILLED BY CARTEL-LINKED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE NEAR BORDER
Idamis Pastor Betancourt, head of the State Attorney General's Office (FGE) said during a press conference on Monday that he could not identify the bodies "due to confidentiality."
However, Periodico Central reported ID cards were found at the scene matching missing people Angie Lizeth P.G., 29, and Leslie N.T., 21.
They are believed to be Angie Lizeth Perez Garcia and Lesly Noya Trejo, outlets reported.
Others reported missing include Brenda Mariel N., Jacqueline Ailet N., Noemi Yamileth N., Raul Emmanuel N., Rubén Antonio N., and Rolando Armando N., according to local reports. One man is still unidentified.
Puebla's State Attorney General's Office could not be reached for comment.
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The Mexican National Guard did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for additional information.
Greenland, Panama fiercely reject Trump’s ambitions in address to Congress
Leaders from both Greenland and Panama issued messages Wednesday fervently rejecting the comments made by President Donald Trump during his address to Congress in which he again reiterated his ambitions to grab hold of the strategically important areas.
Trump has made clear he intends to "acquire" both Greenland and the Panama Canal, and previously refused to rule out military intervention to achieve his expansionist goals.
In his joint address to Congress, the president said his administration had already taken steps to "take back" the Panama Canal and reiterated his push to acquire Greenland, which is currently a territory of Denmark.
TRUMP SAYS AMERICA WOULD WELCOME GREENLAND DURING JOINT ADDRESS TO CONGRESS
Trump spoke directly to Greenland in his address Tuesday night and said, "We strongly support your right to determine your own future, and if you choose, we welcome you into the United States of America."
"We will keep you safe. We will make you rich. And together we will take Greenland to heights like you have never thought possible before," he added.
Trump then said his administration was "working with everybody involved to try to get it."
"We need it really for international world security. And I think we’re going to get it," he continued. "One way or the other, we’re going to get it."
Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede on Wednesday made clear he is neither interested in American or Danish ownership.
"We do not want to be Americans, nor Danes, we are Kalaallit (Greenlanders). The Americans and their leader must understand that," Egede said in a post on Facebook translated by Reuters.
"We are not for sale and cannot be taken. Our future is determined by us in Greenland," he added.
Trump’s comments regarding the Panama Canal Tuesday night were just as direct when he said, "My administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal."
"We've already started doing it," he added.
Trump has claimed China has taken over the important waterway as a Hong Kong-based company operates ports on either end of the canal — which the administration has claimed could cut off the U.S. from the canal if Beijing directed it to.
However, Panama has repeatedly rejected the claim that China runs the canal.
PANAMA AGREES TO END CANAL DEAL WITH CHINA AFTER RUBIO VISIT
"Just today, a large American company announced they are buying both ports around the Panama Canal and lots of other things having to do with the Panama Canal and a couple of other canals," Trump said.
Trump's comments were in reference to a $23 billion BlackRock Inc.- TiL Consortium deal made with Hutchison Port Holdings, the Hong Kong conglomerate, announced on Tuesday.
The consortium, made up of BlackRock Inc., Global Infrastructure Partners and Terminal Investment Limited, would acquire "90% interests in Panama Ports Company (the "PPC Transaction"), which owns and operates the ports of Balboa and Cristobal in Panama," according to a Tuesday press release.
But Panama’s president took issue with Trump’s comments saying in part, "Once again, President Trump, is lying."
"The Panama Canal is not in the process of being restored, and this is certainly not the task that was even discussed in our conversations with [Secretary of State] Rubio or anyone else," Panama President José Raúl Mulino said in a post on X. "I reject, on behalf of Panama and all Panamanians, this new affront to the truth and to our dignity as a nation.
"It has nothing to do with the ‘recovery of the Canal’ or with tarnishing our national sovereignty," he added. "The Canal is Panamanian and will continue to be Panamanian!"
Russian missile experts visited Iran amid growing military ties
Russian military experts visited Iran on two occasions in 2024 as Tehran looked to expand its cooperation with Moscow while its network of resistance suffered devastating blows amid war with Israel.
"Russian missile specialists don’t just appear out of the blue," Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital.
"Alarm bells should be going off in Washington and Jerusalem," Taleblu added.
Senior missile and air defense experts traveled to Tehran in April and September 2024, Reuters reported, as Iran was embroiled in regional confrontation with Israel following the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack.
FDD’s Taleblu said the visit is proof that any effort to divorce Russia from Iran will be self-defeating for the United States.
It is unclear exactly what kind of cooperation was discussed during these visits. Nicholas Carl of the American Enterprise Institute notes that it comes at a time when Iran is looking to Russia for further air defense support and Russia is buying Iranian drones and missiles to use against Ukraine. Experts, including Carl, agree that Russia and Iran are increasingly collaborating to keep one another strong and in pursuit of their mutual objective of eroding U.S. global influence.
Cooperation between Russia and Iran has intensified since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine. Iran came to Russia's aid and supplied drones and ammunition when its forces faced stiff resistance from Ukraine, while Iran in 2023 purchased Russian fighter jets and helicopters.
INCOMING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION GIVEN NEW BLUEPRINT ON WAYS TO WEAKEN IRAN: 'UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY'
Moscow and Tehran further deepened their partnership in January after signing a 20-year "comprehensive strategic partnership treaty," although the pact does not have a collective security agreement.
The revelations come as the Kremlin said future Russia-U.S. talks will include discussions over Iran’s nuclear program. Bloomberg reported that Moscow agreed to assist the U.S. in talks over Iran’s nuclear program, although Kremlin officials refused to confirm, and instead said that it would merely be a topic of discussion.
Andrea Stricker, who focuses on nonproliferation at FDD, told Fox News Digital that, if true, outsourcing Iran nuclear talks to Russia is not a recipe for success.
"As a key ally, Moscow has a vested interest in keeping Iran close to the nuclear threshold. If he pursues diplomacy, Trump should accept no less than the full, permanent, and verified nuclear disarmament of Iran," Stricker added.
IRAQI ACTIVISTS SEEK TO OUST IRANIAN INFLUENCE, NORMALIZE TIES WITH ISRAEL
Trump withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, also known as the Iran nuclear deal, during his first term in 2018 and reapplied harsh economic sanctions. The Biden administration had initially looked at re-engaging with Iran on the nuclear issue upon taking office, but on-again-off-again talks went nowhere, complicated by Iran’s domestic politics and its role in supporting its terror groups in the region.
Putting a halt to Iran’s nuclear program could be an issue where the U.S. and Russia find common ground.
Since returning to the White House, President Trump has sought to improve relations with Russia, which were mostly cut off by the Biden administration after Russia invaded Ukraine. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. officials met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Saudi Arabia last month and agreed to improve relations, expand economic ties, and ultimately bring an end to the war in Ukraine.
Dems' response to ISIS leader arrest 'disturbing,’ says father of Marine killed at Abbey Gate
The father of Marine Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, who was killed along with 12 other American service members during the ISIS-K attack on Abbey Gate in Afghanistan on Aug. 26, 2021, said the Democrats' reaction, or lack thereof, to the news that one of the masterminds behind the attack had been arrested was "disturbing."
President Donald Trump used his address to Congress Tuesday night to announce the March 2 arrest of Mohmmad Sharifullah, who the Justice Department said helped plan the ISIS-K suicide bombing at the Kabul airport as Afghans fled the Taliban takeover.
"This should not be a partisan issue whatsoever – the death of our kids," Mark Schmitz told Fox News Digital.
The attack resulted in the death of 13 U.S. service members as well as some 170 Afghan civilians.
But the news of the arrest was not met with a resounding approval across the political aisle. As Schmitz pointed out, only roughly a third of Democrats applauded the news, and none appeared to join their Republican colleagues in a standing ovation.
"You would think that every single person in that place would be standing up and applauding and cheering," Schmitz said.
The father of the fallen Marine said the sight was "incredibly insulting as a Gold Star family."
"This has got nothing to do with politics," Schmitz continued. "This is our military we're talking about, and that needs to change."
Several family members of those slain in the chaotic withdrawal of Afghanistan took issue with President Joe Biden’s failure to mention their children killed in the line of duty while speaking from the House Chamber during any of his three addresses to Congress following the attack.
"There was no communication from the onset," Schmitz said, reflecting on the controversial moment when the Gold Star families met Biden at Dover Air Force Base when the service members' bodies were returned from Afghanistan.
ISIS-K MEMBER CONFESSED TO SCOUTING ABBEY GATE ATTACK ROUTE, TRAINING MOSCOW ATTACKERS: AFFIDAVIT
Biden was criticized for repeatedly checking his watch and many of the families expressed frustration with the lack of transparency that led to the chaotic withdrawal, and ultimately the death of their loved ones.
"Any time you can start to get a little bit of closure is always a good thing," Schmitz said in reference to the most recent ISIS-K arrest. "And to find out that they got this guy is amazing. There's many more that need to be looked at – certainly he's not the only one.
"This is one down and many more to go, but very, very confident that we're going to start seeing some answers," he added.
Schmitz has chosen to honor his son and the 12 other Americans killed that day by starting a nonprofit aimed at creating "freedom camps" for veterans under a project known as "The Freedom 13."
The goal is to develop a camp in every state, starting with Jared’s home state of Missouri, where veterans can retreat to for a safe space to heal from their time in the service or to simply be around other veterans.
Each camp will consist of at least 100 acres and 13 houses, signifying the 13 service members killed in the attack.
While Schmitz has said they will need more support to help them develop more camps for veterans, he believes that, under the Trump administration, families at least now "have allies in our corner."
Pope Francis increases physical therapy, condition remains 'guarded,' Vatican says
Pope Francis has reportedly increased his physical therapy, despite his outlook remaining "guarded," according to the Vatican. He apparently underwent high-flow oxygen therapy during the day and non-invasive ventilation at night.
This is the pope's third week at Gemelli Hospital in Rome.
This is a developing story, please check back for updates.
Trump touts $5 million ‘gold card’ as new path to citizenship
President Donald Trump on Tuesday said a $5 million "gold card" would go on sale "very, very soon" and would serve as a new path towards becoming a U.S. citizen.
"Its like the green card, but better and more sophisticated," Trump said. "And these people will have to pay tax in our country."
Trump said the newest path to citizenship "will allow the most successful job creating people from all over the world to buy a path to U.S. citizenship."
TRUMP DECLARES 'AMERICA IS BACK' IN SPEECH BEFORE CONGRESS
The "gold card" visa will also enable wealthier students to obtain permanent residency in the U.S.
Trump has previously touted his plan before to attract the world’s wealthiest to become U.S. citizens, though it comes at a time when he is both clamping down on illegal migration and as universities are increasingly in the spotlight amid soaring school costs and crippling student loans.
Trump announced last week that he expected the newest visa option would go on sale in the coming weeks.
TRUMP’S ‘GOLD CARD’ VISA COULD INVITE FRAUD, NATIONAL SECURITY RISKS: EXPERT
Details of the newest visa remain unclear, but Trump said it was just one of his plans to revamp U.S. immigration policies.
Following Trump’s announcement earlier this month, director of the Heritage Foundation's Border Security and Immigration Center, Lora Ries, warned it could invite fraud.
"Any immigration benefit draws fraud … people are willing to do anything and say just about anything to come to the U.S.," Ries told Fox News Digital.
In an interview last week with Fox News’ Chief Political Anchor Bret Baier on "Special Report," Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said all candidates will be "deeply vetted."
He told Baier, "These are vetted people. These are going to be great global citizens who are going to bring entrepreneurial spirit, capacity and growth to America. If one of them comes in, think of the jobs they are going to bring with them, the businesses they are going to bring with them, and they are going to pay American taxes as well, so this is huge money for America."
While Ries acknowledged the goals behind the program, she expressed skepticism that all applicants could be vetted to the extent needed to prevent the type of fraud that exists in the similar EB-5 visa program, which Trump’s gold card would replace.
"Fraud is rarely detected, let alone enforced … so it’s low risk, high reward to commit immigration benefit fraud," Ries said, adding that even Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick admitted to the widespread fraud plaguing the EB-5 program.
"So the question is: How is this going to be different," Ries said. "It raised the price from a million to 5 million, but how are we going to prevent the fraud? Are you just inviting wealthier fraudsters and corrupt people to exploit this?"
Canadian premier threatens to cut off energy to US in response to Trump tariffs: 'They need to feel the pain'
In response to President Donald Trump's tariffs, the leader of Canada's most populous province threatened to cut energy to the United States with "a smile on my face," adding that "they need to feel the pain."
Ontario Premier Doug Ford doubled down on his threats during a mining convention Monday.
"If they want to try to annihilate Ontario, I will do everything – including cut off their energy with a smile on my face," he vowed Monday, the Toronto Sun reported.
TRUMP REACTS TO TRUDEAU RESIGNATION: ‘MANY PEOPLE IN CANADA LOVE BEING THE 51ST STATE’
"They rely on our energy, they need to feel the pain. They want to come at us hard, we’re going to come back twice as hard," he added.
The U.S. is a major customer of Canadian electricity, the report states, with New York, Michigan and Minnesota being Ontario’s three biggest customers of domestically-produced power.
In 2022, Canada's revenue for electricity exports to the U.S. reached a record high of $5.8 billion, according to the Canada Energy Regulator.
Ford said he would match the U.S. tariff for tariff.
"That’s exactly what we’re going to do," Ford said.
"The provinces have a big say in it, but it’s the federal government that’s leading the charge, and we’re going to stand shoulder-to-shoulder no matter who’s in the federal government."
In response to the Trump tariffs, Canada announced retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods on Tuesday.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the heads of some Canadian provinces have also threatened additional measures.
"A fight with Canada will have no winners," Trudeau said while speaking to reporters in Ottawa.
"We will never be the 51st state, but he (Trump) can do damage to the Canadian economy, and he’s started this morning, but he is rapidly going to find out, as American families are going to find out, that that’s going to hurt people on both sides of the border," he added.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment.
Pressured by Trump’s Gaza plan, Arab countries meet in Egypt to discuss alternative proposal
Arab leaders convened in Cairo on Tuesday for an emergency summit aimed at presenting a counterproposal to President Donald Trump's Gaza plan. The summit was held to discuss Egypt’s $53 billion comprehensive reconstruction blueprint for Gaza.
Before Trump proposed resettling Gazans outside the enclave, Egypt and other Arab states had shown little interest in Gaza's reconstruction. However, given that Egypt has ruled out accepting displaced Palestinians for "national security" reasons, it now finds itself compelled to devise its own plan.
With a $53 billion price tag, the plan is positioned as an alternative to Trump’s vision, and key details have already been shared by Arab media outlets. While Egypt proposes a temporary committee to manage Gaza for six months, Palestinians have made it clear that they will not accept any governing body that isn't Palestinian or any foreign forces within Gaza. The plan is projected to take at least four and a half years.
'LEVEL IT': TRUMP SAYS US WILL 'TAKE OVER' GAZA STRIP, REBUILD IT TO STABILIZE MIDDLE EAST
The Egyptian plan is divided into two phases: the first, lasting two years and costing around $20 billion, and the second, spanning two and a half years with a $30 billion allocation. The funds will primarily go toward rebuilding residential areas devastated by conflict.
Importantly, the plan does not call for the displacement of Gaza's residents, as Trump’s proposal does, and stresses the importance of Palestinian-led reconstruction efforts, and that the Palestinian Authority will collaborate with Egypt and Jordan to train a police force for Gaza. But Hamas has already rejected the plan, and the Palestinian Authority has made it clear that it will not engage in reconstruction efforts as long as Hamas maintains control.
"The Saudis will fund Gaza if there’s a path to a Palestinian state and Hamas is gone," Ghaith Al-Omari, senior fellow at the Washington Institute and former executive director of the American Task Force on Palestine told Fox News Digital, "Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar want something from the Israelis in return, whether it's an end to the war or security agreements. They’ll insist on a role for the Palestinian Authority, even if symbolic, for diplomatic reasons. The question is whether the current Israeli government can meet these demands."
THE HISTORY OF GAZA AMID TRUMP'S PLAN TO REBUILD ENCLAVE
"A militarized Hamas cannot remain in Gaza – the strip must be demilitarized, and Hamas must no longer be in control. The Emiratis are even more extreme on this issue," Danny Zaken, a senior commentator for Israel Hayom newspaper, told Fox News Digital, "The final draft of the Egyptian plan will avoid directly addressing Hamas. Instead of stating that Hamas will be removed and disarmed, it will say that ‘qualified Palestinian security forces will maintain order with Egyptian backing.’ This approach aims for unanimous approval without addressing Hamas’ fate, but the reality is that it has no practical validity, because in that case the plan has no financial backing," he explained.
Al-Omari observed, "Arab League summits tend to be a lot of posturing. Who’s going to take care of security? The PA can’t handle that – they’re too weak. No Arab country wants to send troops to Gaza, but they’re also under pressure from the U.S. to contribute."
An Egyptian diplomatic source told Fox News Digital that Egyptian construction firms are ready to begin work, but the real challenge is political. "Egyptian construction companies are very capable, and they can rebuild Gaza in three years – if there is political will, mainly from Israel and the U.S.," the source said.
While Egypt is eager to lead the reconstruction process, its ambitions have created friction with key Gulf states, which are expected to finance much of the effort. Zaken, noted, "The Saudis are concerned because the Egyptians want to control the entire process: Who gets the money, who oversees the reconstruction, who the contractors are for demolition and rebuilding? And even new housing and hotels. The other partners worry about corruption in the process."
A former U.S. foreign service official warned Fox News Digital that Egypt’s ability to manage such funds is a concern. "The Gulf, which is expected to pay for it, is sick and tired of Egyptian corruption. If they fund the reconstruction, they will demand major oversight to ensure the money doesn’t get lost in Egypt’s power structure," the source said.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE HOSTAGES AND CEASE-FIRE DEAL BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS SET TO BEGIN SUNDAY
Meanwhile, Jordan, which has played a key diplomatic role, has managed to avoid direct involvement in the reconstruction debate. Following King Abdullah’s meeting with Trump, Jordanian officials felt that the pressure had shifted to Egypt and other Arab states. "The Jordanians were very happy with the outcome of the meeting with Trump. They feel that the pressure to accept [a] million Gazans is off them," Al-Omari said.
At the same time, the broader political future of Gaza remains uncertain. Al-Omari noted that despite the ongoing reconstruction discussions, the primary concern for Arab leaders is how to navigate Trump’s unpredictable stance on Gaza. "Frankly, the main thinking in Arab governments right now is how to engage in a covert process with Trump to walk him back from this. No one expects immediate results, but they do hope that this will move Trump away from the idea of depopulating Gaza," he said.
For now, all eyes are on the summit. However, as one former diplomatic source put it, "There’s no real plan yet – just ideas. Everyone is trying to shape it in their favor, but until Hamas’ fate is resolved, we’re all just talking in circles."
Houthis designated as foreign terrorist organization, Rubio says
The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen have been designated as a foreign terrorist organization, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Tuesday, fulfilling one of President Donald Trump’s first promises upon taking office.
Rubio said the U.S. "will not tolerate" any country that does business with "terrorist organizations like the Houthis."
"Today’s action taken by the State Department demonstrates the Trump Administration’s commitment to protecting our national security interests, the safety of the American people, and the security of the United States," Rubio said in the statement. "Terrorist designations play a critical role in our fight against terrorism and are an effective way to curtail support for terrorist activities."
The Houthis have carried out more than 100 attacks on vessels in the Red Sea following the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas on Israel and the ensuing war in Gaza. The U.S. military has defended its warships patrolling the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait, escorting and preventing attacks on commercial ships by the Houthis.
HOUTHIS TARGET US FIGHTER JET, DRONE WITH SAM MISSILES FOR FIRST TIME
Trump re-designated Yemen’s Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization in January, writing in an executive order that "the Houthis' activities threaten the security of American civilians and personnel in the Middle East, the safety of our closest regional partners, and the stability of global maritime trade."
Trump had added the Houthis to the foreign terrorist organization list during his first term, but President Joe Biden reversed the designation within one month of taking office in 2021 as his administration sought to make it easier to get humanitarian aid into Yemen.
TERROR ATTACK IN HAIFA, ISRAEL LEAVES 1 DEAD, 4 WOUNDED
After Trump suggested removing Palestinian from Gaza last month, the Houthis’ leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, said in a televised speech that the group would take military action against the U.S. and Israel.
There has been a policy debate at the highest levels of the U.S. military about what is the best way to counter the Houthis.
Some suggest a more traditional counterterrorism approach to the Houthis, with persistent strikes targeting the individuals planning and carrying out the ongoing attacks, while others want a more defensive approach that goes after Houthi infrastructure and weapons-storage facilities.
Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.
Serbian lawmakers throw smoke grenades, tear gas in parliament
Chaos erupted in Serbia’s parliament on Tuesday with opposition lawmakers setting off smoke grenades and tear gas to protest the government and support demonstrating students.
At least three lawmakers were injured, with one in critical condition after suffering a stroke, further fueling political tensions in the landlocked Balkan country, which is located at the crossroads of Southeast and Central Europe.
Video footage from the assembly hall showed a clash first between lawmakers and later flares and smoke bombs being thrown. Serbian media said eggs and water bottles were also hurled. Hundreds of opposition supporters rallied outside the parliament building during the session.
SERBIA ROCKED BY ANTI-CORRUPTION PROTESTS AFTER CONSTRUCTION TRAGEDY
The ugly scenes stem from a fatal collapse of a canopy at a railway station in November. The incident sparked mass protests as demonstrators demanded justice and accountability for the tragedy.
Many in Serbia believe the fatal canopy collapse was the result of sloppy work and a disregard for safety regulations because of government corruption. The canopy at the railway station collapsed after renovations led by two Chinese companies.
The protests led to the resignation of Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic in January. The prime minister’s resignation made him the highest regime official to step down, but it hasn’t quelled the uprising and mass protests have continued in Belgrade and across the country.
Parliament must still confirm the prime minister’s resignation for it to take effect.
At the legislative session on Tuesday, lawmakers were scheduled to vote on a law that would increase funding for university education, a key demand by student protesters.
But opposition parties said the ruling majority was also planning to approve dozens of other decisions. They said this was illegal and that lawmakers should first confirm the resignation of Vucevic and his government.
After the ruling coalition led by the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) approved the agenda, some opposition politicians ran out of their seats towards the parliamentary speaker and scuffled with security guards.
Others tossed smoke grenades and tear gas, with black and pink smoke rising inside the parliament, which has also witnessed brawls and the throwing of water in the decades since the introduction of multi-party democracy in 1990.
As the session continued, ruling coalition politicians debated while opposition lawmakers whistled and blew horns.
Opposition deputies also held signs reading "general strike," and "justice for the killed," while outside the building protesters stood in silence to honor 15 people killed by a railway station roof collapse.
Parliament speaker Ana Brnabic accused the opposition of being a "terrorist gang." The ruling coalition says Western intelligence agencies are trying to destabilize Serbia and topple the government by backing the protests.
The government has tried to evade scrutiny by downplaying the government’s culpability in the collapse at the station. At first, the government tried to ignore the protests, then began to use force and accused the protests of being infiltrated by foreign agitators.
Some observers complained that the Vucic government’s failure to act and provide clear answers to the public is endemic to Serbia’s core institutional corruption.
Meanwhile, protest leaders called for a major rally in the capital Belgrade on March 15.
Fox News’ Chris Massaro, Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Department of Education clarifies school DEI guidelines, saying Black History Month doesn't violate order
The Department of Education clarified that observances such as Black History Month are not in violation of an order warning state education departments that they must remove diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies or risk losing federal funding.
The guidance came after the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights sent a letter to the departments of education in all 50 states in mid-February notifying them of a Feb. 28 deadline to comply with the order.
"Title VI prohibits recipients of federal funding from discriminating on the basis of race, color, or national origin," the guidance reads, adding "Schools may not operate policies or programs under any name that treat students differently based on race, engage in racial stereotyping, or create hostile environments for students of particular races.
"For example, schools with programs focused on interests in particular cultures, heritages, and areas of the world would not in and of themselves violate Title VI, assuming they are open to all students regardless of race," the guidance continued. "Nor would educational, cultural, or historical observances – such as Black History Month, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, or similar events – that celebrate or recognize historical events and contributions, and promote awareness, so long as they do not engage in racial exclusion or discrimination."
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY ‘SUNSETS’ OFFICES AMID ONGOING REVIEW OF DEI WORK
"Whether a policy or program violates Title VI does not depend on the use of specific terminology such as ‘diversity,’ ‘equity,’ or ‘inclusion,’" the guidance, dated Feb. 28, also said.
The letter in February from Craig Trainor, the acting assistant secretary for civil rights in the Department of Education, said, "Educational institutions have toxically indoctrinated students with the false premise that the United States is built upon ‘systemic and structural racism’ and advanced discriminatory policies and practices."
"Proponents of these discriminatory practices have attempted to further justify them—particularly during the last four years—under the banner of "diversity, equity, and inclusion" ("DEI"), smuggling racial stereotypes and explicit race-consciousness into everyday training, programming, and discipline," he wrote.
DOGE INITIAL FINDINGS ON DEFENSE DEPARTMENT DEI SPENDING COULD SAVE $80 MILLION, AGENCY SAYS
"All educational institutions are advised to: (1) ensure that their policies and actions comply with existing civil rights law; (2) cease all efforts to circumvent prohibitions on the use of race by relying on proxies or other indirect means to accomplish such ends; and (3) cease all reliance on third-party contractors, clearinghouses, or aggregators that are being used by institutions in an effort to circumvent prohibited uses of race," Trainor concluded. "Institutions that fail to comply with federal civil rights law may, consistent with applicable law, face potential loss of federal funding."
The letter comes after President Donald Trump signed executive orders directing agencies to provide a plan to eliminate federal funding for "illegal and discriminatory treatment and indoctrination in K-12 schools, including based on gender ideology and discriminatory equity ideology." He also signed orders to end DEI programs in federal agencies.
The Department of Education previously announced the removal of mention of DEI from documents and websites. The department also placed employees who led DEI initiatives on leave and dissolved its Diversity & Inclusion Council.
Fox News’ Landon Mion contributed to this report.
Pope Francis off mechanical ventilation, stabilizing after breathing crises: Vatican sources
Pope Francis was taken off mechanical ventilation and is stabilizing Tuesday following a pair of breathing crises the day before, Vatican sources told Fox News.
The 88-year-old's overall outlook remains "guarded" and he is not out of danger yet, the sources added.
The pope was admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Feb. 14. Doctors first diagnosed a complex viral, bacterial and fungal respiratory tract infection and subsequently the onset of pneumonia in both of his lungs.
Pope Francis suffered two acute respiratory crises Monday, a complex medical situation that was less dangerous than Friday's bronchospasm, the Vatican announced. The developments prompted Francis to resume "non-invasive mechanical ventilation."
POPE FRANCIS SUFFERS 2 ACUTE RESPIRATORY CRISES, VATICAN SAYS
On Tuesday morning, the pope returned to a high-oxygen flow nose tube, and is now awake and continuing breathing exercises, according to the sources.
They also said it is "[p]remature to think" if Francis has a Do Not Resuscitate order.
POPE FRANCIS BELIEVES ‘PAPACY IS FOR LIFE,’ HISTORIAN-BIOGRAPHER SAYS
"I would like to thank you for your prayers, which rise up to the Lord from the hearts of so many faithful from many parts of the world," Pope Francis said in a message posted to his X account on Sunday.
"I feel all your affection and closeness and, at this particular time, I feel as if I am ‘carried’ and supported by all God’s people," he added.
Fox News’ Melissa Chrise, Courtney Walsh and Landon Mion contributed to this report.
Philippine fighter jet carrying 2 pilots goes missing during mission against insurgents in southern province
A Philippine air force fighter jet carrying two pilots went missing during a night combat assault in support of ground forces who were battling insurgents in a southern province, officials said Tuesday.
The FA-50 jet lost communication during the tactical mission around midnight on Monday before reaching a target area. A search for the jet is underway.
"We are hopeful of locating them and the aircraft soon and ask you to join us in prayer during this critical time," Philippine air force spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said.
CHINESE NAVY HELICOPTER FLIES WITHIN 10 FEET OF PHILIPPINE PATROL PLANE OVER DISPUTED SHOAL
The other aircraft involved in the mission returned safely to an air base in central Cebu province, the air force said, without offering further details due to security reasons.
The incident happened in a southern Philippine province during an anti-insurgency mission against communist guerrillas, a Philippine military official told The Associated Press.
US FLIES JOINT PATROL WITH THE PHILIPPINES NEAR SHOAL REGION GUARDED BY CHINA
It was not immediately clear if the other FA-50s would be grounded after the incident.
The Philippines acquired 12 FA-50s multi-purpose fighter jets from South Korea's Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. for 18.9 billion pesos, or $331 million, beginning in 2015. The acquisition was viewed at the time as the biggest deal under a military modernization program that had been repeatedly stalled by a lack of funds.
In addition to anti-insurgency missions, the jets have been used for various other activities, including major national ceremonies and patrolling the disputed South China Sea.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Trump’s threats against Canada boost Trudeau's Liberal Party in the polls as new tariffs set to begin
OTTAWA, Canada — As new tariffs came into effect on Tuesday, analysts say that if Canada's Liberal Party holds onto power, the party can thank President Donald Trump in part for such a reversal of political fortune.
Since Trump's inauguration, Canada's official opposition Conservative Party – once leading the governing Liberals by a wide margin – has seen their popularity in public-opinion polls gradually decline.
An Ipsos poll released last week found that, for the first time since the Liberals won the last federal election in 2021, they’re ahead of the Conservatives by two points, with 38% popularity compared to the Conservatives at 36%. Six weeks earlier, the Conservatives were leading the Liberals by 26 points. A general election is expected to be called as early as this spring by Trudeau's successor, who will be announced on Sunday.
Darrell Bricker, CEO of Ipsos Global Public Affairs, told Fox News Digital that he has never seen a party experience such a rapid and dramatic drop during his four-decade career in polling.
He believes the Conservatives' decline is attributable to two factors.
Justin Trudeau, whose personal popularity has plummeted since he became Canada’s 23rd prime minister in 2015, will step down as head of the Canadian government and Liberal Party on March 9; "And the threat from Trump to use economic force on Canada to bend us to his knee and possibly absorb us as a 51st state," explained Bricker, about the president’s planned tariffs against Canada and his repeated references regarding annexation.
Throughout February, Nanos Research found the gap narrowing between the Liberals and Conservatives, who the month before were poised to form a "super-majority" government with as many as 240 members of Parliament (MPs) in an expanded 343-seat House of Commons that takes effect after the next general election.
"That’s completely out the window now," said Nik Nanos, founder and chief data scientist of the Canadian polling firm, who also believes Trudeau’s imminent departure and Trump’s rhetoric against Canada have contributed to the Liberals’ bump in the polls.
The president "has effectively changed the ballot question from: Is it time for a change? – which was bad news for the Liberals – to who can best deal with Donald Trump, the new existential threat to the Canadian economy?" offered Nanos.
He explained that Canadian Conservative Official Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre and his party played a part in the Liberals’ boost by "showing they were a little out of touch" in focusing on the Liberal government’s tax on carbon emissions and vowing to remove it while Canadians became increasingly concerned about Trump’s threats.
"In hindsight, when the Conservatives had a 27-point advantage in our polling, it didn’t have anything to do with Pierre Poilievre being strong or liked, or the Conservatives being brilliant strategists," said Nanos. "It all had to do with dislike of Justin Trudeau and people wanting change and the Conservatives being the agent of change."
According to the Ipsos poll, 86% percent of 1,000 respondents said that they want a general election "immediately" to have a federal government "with a strong mandate" to deal with Trump’s tariff threat.
Bricker said the Liberals’ lead in the polls, particularly in Canada’s most populous provinces of Ontario and Quebec, over the Conservatives could even widen should Mark Carney, the former governor of the central banks of England and Canada and the frontrunner in the Liberal leadership race, succeed Trudeau as prime minister.
Veteran Canadian pollster Angus Reid said the latest polling by his company found that 51% said Carney and the Liberals were best suited to improve relations with the U.S., including on tariffs, compared to 35% who chose the Conservatives under Poilievre, who is seen by many Canadians as holding a "Trump-light agenda."
From south of the border, the president has "eroded Conservative support because it completely changed the political dynamic in Canada, completely changed what could be considered the most important ballot question that was all about getting rid of some of the baggage from the Trudeau era," explained Reid, founder and chair of the Angus Reid Institute.
"Now it’s one of defending the sovereignty and economy of the country."
Another Angus Reid poll found that with Carney as Liberal leader, his party is virtually tied at 44% with the Conservatives, at 45% on voting intention. In Quebec, a Carney-led Liberal Party enjoys 31% support compared to the Conservatives at 22%.
Reid said the annexation and tariffs issue especially resonates with Quebecers more than any other region in Canada.
Carney’s further challenge for Poilievre is that the former "on paper, looks like a Conservative," said Nanos.
"The guy worked in the banking sector and the private sector, like Goldman Sachs, and chaired, until recently, large enterprises like Bloomberg and Brookfield [Asset Management]. He walks and talks like a Conservative."
Carney, an Oxford-educated economist who has never held elected office, is expected to call a snap election should he be chosen as Trudeau’s successor.
If the polling numbers continue to rise in favor of the Liberals, they could not only win the national vote in such a contest but form a majority government, added Reid.
Currently, the Liberals have 153 MPs in the 338-seat House of Commons, which constitutes a minority government.
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