INTERNACIONAL
Trump’s approach to Africa lauded by top Republican as recent airstrikes show ‘outside the box’ thinking
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
FIRST ON FOX: The Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has lashed out at China, Russia and Iran for threatening U.S. national security interests in Africa in exclusive comments to Fox News Digital.
In a wide-ranging interview, Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, discussed the Trump administration’s approach to Africa, highlighting terrorism, war and concerns over trade on the continent. Risch emphasized the importance of Africa to the U.S.
«The economic opportunities in Africa cannot be understated, and the United States needs to have a seat at the table regarding trade and investment in the region,» he said. «At the same time, there are serious national security challenges we need to address head on to include terrorism, widespread conflicts affecting regional stability, migration and trafficking.»
TRUMP’S CRITICISM OF SOUTH AFRICA’S VIOLENT CRIME CRISIS RECEIVES UNEXPECTED LOCAL SUPPORT
Sen. Jim Risch, R-ID, spoke to Fox News Digital on Africa. (Bonnie Cash-Pool/Getty Images)
Russia, China and Iran have been criticized by Risch as being ‘malign actors’ in Africa, accused of military interventions, exploitative trade practices, and in Iran’s case, reported to be working on an agreement to extract refined «yellowcake» uranium for its controversial nuclear program.
«The malign actions of China and Russia, and even regional actors like Iran, are serious challenges to our national security interests in Africa,» Risch said. «Countering the influence of these aggressors is as much about the U.S. pursuing greater partnerships with African states as it is about responding to the challenges put forward by countries like Russia and China in Africa.»
Risch weighed in on the role of the U.S. military on the continent, saying it «is to protect the American people, first and foremost, and that goal should remain the same in Africa. We have serious security threats in Africa, and we must take them seriously. Remember, Osama bin Laden hid in Sudan, bombed our embassies there, and planned his 9/11 attack.»
Fighters of the Sudan Liberation Movement, a Sudanese rebel group active in Sudan’s Darfur State which supports army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, attend a graduation ceremony in the southeastern Gedaref state on March 28, 2024. (AFP via Getty Images)
Then there’s the question of Islamist terror. Risch said he was «concerned about the spread of Islamist militants throughout parts of Africa, and has supported efforts to work with countries to help them get this situation under control.»
He added, «I am mindful that it is ultimately not up to us to confront this problem, and we have to stop being the only major player providing international support. Others, including African nations, must do more.»
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin pose for a family photo during the BRICS summit in Kazan on October 23, 2024. (ALEXANDER ZEMLIANICHENKO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
REPUBLICAN SENATORS MOVE TO BLOCK SOMALIA TERROR FUNDING UNTIL ALLIES PAY ‘FAIR SHARE’
Washington has Somalian terror clearly on its radar. In banning Somalians from entering the U.S. earlier this month, a White House proclamation stated, «The United States Government has identified Somalia as a terrorist safe haven.»
Al-Qaeda and Islamic State-affiliated terrorists operate openly. The U.S. military, through its Africa Command, has ramped up action against the groups since President Trump took office. So far this month, the U.S. has already carried out six air strikes against Islamic State in Somalia.
Al-Shabab fighters conduct military exercise in northern Mogadishu’s Suqaholaha neighborhood, Somalia, Sunday, Sept. 5, 2010. (Farah Abdi Warsameh/AP Photo)
«I have advocated so strongly for the United States to build an approach that relies less on a central government partner that has not delivered, and more on partners in Somalia and the region to bring about effective counterterrorism gains.
«Fortunately, President Trump’s Africa policy has already shown he thinks outside the box, as demonstrated by the handling of recent airstrikes on Somalia with less hand-wringing, and more direct and decisive action.»
In Sudan, Russia and Iran have been fingered as protagonists pushing military agendas and war. An estimated 150,000 have been killed, and more than 12 million displaced, since civil war broke out in April 2023.
«The war in Sudan must end, and the partition of the Sudanese state must be prevented. This is the worst humanitarian disaster in the world, and a playground for malign actors backing both sides,» he said.
Supporters of Niger’s National Concil of Sefeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) hold a Russia (R) and a Chinese (L) flag as they gather at Place de la Concertation in Niamey on August 20, 2023. (AFP via Getty Images)
BOLD MOVE TO KEEP AMERICANS SAFE FROM ‘TERRORISTS’ IS BASIS FOR US TRAVEL BAN FOR SOME AFRICAN NATIONS
On President Donald Trump’s spearheading of efforts to bring peace to the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Risch said, «I know this administration is working hard to secure a deal between DRC and Rwanda that will end the fighting. America must serve as a counterweight to China’s critical minerals deals in the region, but can’t fully do so until the region is more stable.»
In South Africa, government ministers continue to meet with senior Russian, Chinese and Iranian officials. The African National Congress political party, which South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is the leader of, has hosted officials from the Hamas terror group. Yet the country benefits from duty-free benefits for products like cars and fruit in the U.S. under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, AGOA, and other trade deals.
WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 21: U.S. President Donald Trump (R) speaks during a meeting with President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office of the White House on May 21, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images)
Risch told Fox News Digital, «I have consistently raised national security concerns about South Africa’s AGOA eligibility. AGOA is set to expire later this year, and President Trump’s current tariff regime already overrides many of its benefits. I remain critical of the South African government’s posture, which is why I applauded Secretary Rubio’s decision not to allow U.S. representation at the G20.»
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
In November, South Africa is due to hand over the chairmanship of the G20 to the U.S. But at this time Washington is not sending a single official to the handover ceremony.
Fox News Digital reached out to the South African government, but received no response.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A House Democrat representing a district that President Donald Trump won in 2024 is not seeking re-election next year.
Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, announced his plans in an op-ed for the Bangor Daily News on Wednesday, a day after Democrats’ sweeping electoral victories in Virginia, New Jersey, California and New York City.
«I have never loved politics. But I find purpose and meaning in service, and the Marine in me has been able to slog along through the many aspects of politics I dislike by focusing on the good work that Congress is capable of producing with patience and determination,» Golden wrote.
«But after 11 years as a legislator, I have grown tired of the increasing incivility and plain nastiness that are now common from some elements of our American community — behavior that, too often, our political leaders exhibit themselves.»
HEAD HERE FOR FOX NEWS ELECTION 2025 COVERAGE
Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, attends a news conference in the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, July 17, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Golden has represented Maine’s 2nd Congressional District since 2019. He’s managed to hold on to the seat through his constituents voting for President Donald Trump in both 2020 and 2024.
The moderate Democrat — also a Marine Corps veteran — has been known to frequently break from his own party, including on the recent government shutdown vote in September.
He shared more of his concerns with the left in his retirement announcement, criticizing both Republicans and Democrats for the current state of politics in the country.
«We have seen mainstream Republicans stand by as their party was hijacked first by Tea Party obstructionists and then by the MAGA movement and its willingness to hand much of Congress’ authority to the president,’ Golden wrote.
«I fear Democrats are going down the same path. We’re allowing the most extreme, pugilistic elements of our party to call the shots. Just look again at the shutdown. For as long as I can remember, we have opposed shutting down the government over policy disputes. We criticized Republicans for taking hostages this way. But this year, reeling from the losses of the last election, too many Democrats have given into demands that we use the same no-holds-barred, obstructionary tactics as the GOP.»
Golden broke from his fellow Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, on the government shutdown vote in September. (Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images)
And despite his seat being a prime target for Republicans every two years, Golden said that did not factor into his decision.
«I don’t fear losing. What has become apparent to me is that I now dread the prospect of winning. Simply put, what I could accomplish in this increasingly unproductive Congress pales in comparison to what I could do in that time as a husband, a father and a son,» he wrote.
«I have long supported term limits and while current law allows me to run again, I like the idea of ending my service in Congress after eight years — the length of term limits in the Maine Legislature.»
SOCIALIST SHOCKWAVE: ZOHRAN MAMDANI STUNS NYC AS VOTERS HAND POWER TO DEMOCRATS’ FAR-LEFT FLANK
Golden’s seat had been ranked a «toss-up» by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, which also rated his district slightly in favor of the GOP at R+4.
House Republicans’ campaign arm wasted no time in seizing on Golden’s announcement, releasing its own statement shortly after his op-ed was published.
President Donald Trump won Golden’s district in 2016, 2020 and 2024. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
«Serial flip-flopper Jared Golden’s exit from Congress says it all: He’s turned his back on Mainers for years and now his chickens are coming home to roost. He, nor any other Democrat, has a path to victory in ME-02 and Republicans will flip this seat red in 2026,» National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) spokeswoman Maureen O’Toole said in a release to reporters.
Beyond his frustration with partisan politics, however, Golden also revealed that the heightened political environment also pushed him to re-consider his congressional career.
Golden said earlier this year that he and his family had to spend Thanksgiving in a hotel room after receiving a bomb threat at their home.
House Democrats’ campaign arm thanked Golden for his service in its own statement upon his retirement.
«I sincerely commend Jared for all the work he has done for Mainers, from lowering costs to protecting lobstermen’s jobs and fighting for veterans,» Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) Chair Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., said. «He has devoted his life so far to service, first as a Marine, then in the Maine legislature, and in Congress since 2019. He embodies Maine’s independent spirit and I wish him and his family all the best in their next chapter.»
house of representatives politics,elections,democrats,politics
INTERNACIONAL
Líderes europeos plantan a Gustavo Petro y no viajan a Colombia por miedo a Donald Trump
La política exterior europea siempre miró por el rabillo del ojo a Washington, pero este último año la situación empieza a ser humillante. Varios líderes europeos, entre ellos el alemán Friedrich Merz y la presidenta de la Comisión Europea, la también alemana Úrsula Von der Leyen, decidieron este martes cancelar su participación en la cumbre entre la Celac y la Unión Europea que empieza la próxima semana en Santa Marta, Colombia.
Una portavoz del Ejecutivo comunitario llegó a reconocer que Von der Leyen no iba porque habían suspendido su asistencia otros líderes, tanto europeos como latinoamericanos, pero la razón real es más humillante: el miedo a enfadar a Donald Trump, dispuesto a que la cumbre fracase. La cumbre es la continuación de la organizada hace dos años en Bruselas, organizada bajo presidencia española del Consejo de la UE y que tuvo una asistencia masiva.
Los europeos, salvo el español Sánchez, cómodo a la contra de Trump, tienen miedo al presidente estadounidense. La posición agresiva de Washington con Colombia, llegando a sancionar al presidente Gustavo Petro, les obligaría a tomar partido de acudir a la cumbre, algo que les da pavor por miedo a enfurecer al inquilino del Despacho Oval.
La posición oficial europea es que está dispuesta a trabajar con los países de la región y con Estados Unidos en la lucha contra el narcotráfico, pero que esta debe hacerse de acuerdo al derecho internacional y el principio de la integridad territorial de los Estados. De ahí no pasa la crítica a los ataques de las tropas estadounidenses a barcos supuestamente cargados de narcóticos.
La no asistencia de Von der Leyen a la cumbre va a demás contra la cacareada política europea de reforzar relaciones con otros bloques para zafarse de la presión comercial de Estados Unidos y China. Esa “autonomía estratégica europea” se basa, también, en tejer más alianzas con más países para reducir dependencias de las dos grandes superpotencias. América Latina en general es un socio prioritario en esa estrategia. Y con Colombia la UE tiene un acuerdo comercial desde hace una década.
El caso de Von der Leyen llama la atención por dos razones. En primer lugar, porque no debe representar la postura de uno u otro país, sino al bloque en su conjunto. Por eso a las cumbres con otros bloques regionales algunas veces acuden los 27 jefes de Estado o de Gobierno europeos, otras veces sólo un puñado y en ocasiones ninguno, pero ella siempre va porque es la cara visible del bloque. Esta vez no será así.
La Unión Europea estará representada por el presidente del Consejo Europeo, Antonio Costa. El también ex primer ministro portugués, socialdemócrata, tiene otra cosmovisión del mundo y entiende mejor América Latina que una Von der Leyen, alemana, que no ha mirado más a la región en seis años que ante la posibilidad de firmar acuerdos comerciales.
Von der Leyen es presidenta de la Comisión Europea desde finales de 2019. En sus primeros cuatro años nunca viajó a América Latina. El primer viaje lo hizo en junio de 2023 para reunirse con el presidente Lula da Silva con Mercosur como tema más importante sobre la mesa. En tres días le dio tiempo a pasar por Buenos Aires, Santiago de Chile y México DF.
El 18 y 19 de noviembre de 2024 volvió a Brasil para una cumbre del G20 y el 5 y 6 de diciembre de ese año viajó a Montevideo, donde encontró a los presidentes de Mercosur. Si todo va bien y a Donald Trump no le molesta, debería volver a Brasil la tercera semana de diciembre para firmar ese acuerdo.
Las humillaciones de Von der Leyen ante Trump no es la primera. El pasado julio acudió a su campo de golf en Escocia para aceptar que Estados Unidos impusiera un arancel general del 15% a lo que importaba desde Europa sin que el bloque europeo tomara una medida recíproca.
La razón oficial que esgrimieron los funcionarios europeos era que así evitaba una guerra comercial mucho más gravosa. Ceder ante la amenaza como política comercial y diplomática porque la alternativa puede ser mucho peor, vienen a decir los funcionarios europeos desde la vuelta de Trump a la Casa Blanca.
La suspensión de este viaje se entiende desde el punto de vista político, pero provocó malestar en la diplomacia europea. Pero algunos diplomáticos cuentan en privado que tanta culpa tienen Von der Leyen y muchos gobernantes europeos como la mayoría de los presidentes de América Latina, a los que tampoco se espera en Santa Marta.
INTERNACIONAL
Virginia slammed for ‘truly demonic’ election that excused political violence to spite Trump, critics say
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Many political observers nationwide equated an upset win by Virginia Attorney General-elect Jay Jones and the Democratic ticket as a «demonic» example of the left putting politics ahead of decency.
A majority of Virginia voters ignored scandals that roiled Jones’ campaign, including his envision of murdering a top Republican lawmaker and their children, to put him in office and unseat more than a dozen GOP state delegates.
«They overlooked it because they hate Trump more than they care about what … the Virginia attorney general[-elect] said,» Outkick founder Clay Travis told Fox News on Wednesday.
«Miyares did an incredible job. This is an example of outrage at Trump motivating the turnout,» Travis said on «America’s Newsroom.»
LIBERAL MEDIA DOWNPLAYS SCANDAL OF DEM VIRGINIA AG HOPEFUL JAY JONES’ TEXTS FANTASIZING MURDER OF GOP LAWMAKER
President Trump juxtaposed next to Jay Jones, Democratic nominee for Virginia Attorney General. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images; Mike Kropf/Richmond Times-Dispatch via AP, Pool)
Travis said Trump was clearly a driving force and that there were some Spanberger voters who split tickets in favor of outgoing Attorney General Jason Miyares, but that Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears’ losing margin was too much in an era of rare ticket-splitting.
He said one key observation is that Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger received 600,000 fewer total votes than Trump himself did in the president’s losing battle in Virginia one year prior.
When Trump is off the ballot, Republicans also don’t appear to turn out to vote, he said – as figures from heavily conservative southwestern Virginia bore that out Tuesday night.
JAY JONES INVOKES TRUMP NEARLY 50 TIMES DURING VIRGINIA AG DEBATE, TIES MIYARES TO ‘MAGA’
WTAR radio host Kerry Dougherty, who co-hosts an AM dial show in Hampton, wrote on X that Virginia needs to «buckle up.»
«Democrats last night installed a deranged sociopath in the attorney general’s office. A man who may find his law license suspended over chicanery with community service hours. Yep, they preferred him to a moderate, smart and successful Republican. We’re in deep trouble.»
Elsewhere, Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, argued that the political left shows little concern for victims of political violence, calling Jones’ victory the latest proof.
«A deranged lib murders Charlie Kirk, and Democrats respond by electing a sociopath who – in his own words – wants his political opponents and their children dead. Truly demonic,» Gill, wrote on X.
«Truly evil,» added Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier.
VIRGINIA DEMOCRATS HAVE A VIOLENCE PROBLEM
A text message from Jay Jones to Del. Carrie Coyner. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)
Uthmeier tried to help Miyares in the closing days of the race, appearing with him, Earle-Sears and now-outgoing Dels. Geary Higgins, R-Lovettsville, and Ian Lovejoy, R-Warrenton, at a closing-days rally in New Baltimore.
Virginia Republican voters were also vocal the morning after – as one wrote that it’s clear his neighbors would be alright if he was dead.
«At least I now know that all of my neighbors with Jay Jones signs up are okay with political violence,» the voter wrote on X.
SOCIAL MEDIA ERUPTS AFTER DISGRACED DEM NOMINEE LEANS ON TRUMP ATTACKS IN VIRGINIA AG DEBATE
«I can no longer in good conscience be associated with them. They obviously want me dead too.»
Conservative commentator Benny Johnson played out the scenario such Jones voters may have thought through before voting:
«Democrats in Virginia saw these texts from Jay Jones and decided ‘yup, he has my vote’,» Johnson said.
JAY JONES’ ‘TWO BULLETS’ SCANDAL OVER VIOLENT TEXTS EXPECTED TO DOMINATE VIRGINIA AG DEBATE
«Truly evil. You can’t live in a country with people that want you dead.»
Jack Posobiec, a conservative commentator and editor at Human Events, responded to Jones’ post-scandal win with his own recollection of political violence:
«I saw a leftist murder Charlie Kirk and I saw them celebrate it,» Posobiec said.
«While conservatives have spent the last few weeks arguing with each other, Democrats just elected an Attorney General who openly fantasizes about murdering us and watching our children die in our arms,» added commentator Matt Walsh.
«These people are the enemy. What more do you need to see? Seriously. What more do you need to see?»
«Ruthless» podcast producer Leigh Wolf wrote on X that the election results in Virginia are the «first empirical evidence» in the public sphere that proves Democrats writ-large support political violence as a tool to achieve power.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
«They saw with their own eyes this absolute psycho go into graphic detail about the need to murder children as a means of achieving political outcomes, and they voted yes,» Wolf said.
«You can’t hand wave away violence as the actions of a few fringe radicals when you affirmatively vote in favor of those tactics.»
In their responses to Jones’ victory, voices on the left steered clear of the question of condoning violence, including one of the attorney general-elect’s top backers, Senate President L. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth.
Lucas posted a clip drawn from Fox News video of Jones greeting voters in Norfolk, which an official at the Republican Attorney General’s Assocation trimmed down to show the Democrat appearing to try to kick a dog in a potentially playful manner.
Lucas re-envisioned that clip as a GIF of Jones making the kicking motion toward the dog – but instead hitting Attorney General Jason Miyares, whose avatar went flying upward toward the sky.
Elsewhere, Democratic state Sen. Mamie Locke of Hampton commented that Democrats wins instead showed that her party won because «Republicans cannot govern, do their jobs and would rather shut the government down than feed people or provide them health care.»
«And, Trump, you were on the ballot. Maybe not literally, but your failed policies were,» Locke said. «Voters told you how they felt about those failures. Your efforts to distract, distort, discourage, discredit, and destroy this country has Virginians and citizens all over America fighting back. This is just the beginning.»
Anti-Trump commentator Tim Miller also commented on X about those observers expressing fears as some conservatives have.
After conservative commentator Megyn Kelly said that «God save Republicans and their children in VA,» Miller called it «the first known case of Spanberger Derangement Syndrome.»
Fox News Digital also reached out to Lt. Gov.-elect Ghazala Hashmi for her view on whether Jones’ election and that of Democrats writ large should be connected with a passivity toward political violence.
virginia governor race,crime,virginia,politics,law
Vulnerable House Dem criticizes ‘extreme’ left in shocking 2026 announcement
¡Un desastre! Estafaron a Fernanda Vives y le destrozaron la casa: “Me rompieron la pileta”
Trump criticó el triunfo de Mamdani en Nueva York: “Buscan transformar nuestro país en la Cuba comunista”
Piden quitarle la tobillera electrónica a uno de los acusados en la causa Revolución Federal
Los ADRs subieron hasta 6% en Wall Street y el riesgo país llegó a mínimos en 9 meses
La nueva piel: Adidas hizo oficial la nueva camiseta de la Selección Argentina para Mundial 2026
Paula Robles rompió el silencio tras las amenazas de muerte a Juanita Tinelli, su hija: “Hay otro mundo en el que sí tenemos posibilidades”
Lamine Yamal contó toda la verdad sobre las infidelidades a Nicki Nicole y fue tajante: “Todo lo que está saliendo no tiene nada que ver”
Tras los cambios de Gabinete, Milei viaja a Miami para participar de una cumbre global junto a Trump
Kicillof quiere declarar en emergencia económica a la provincia y pide autorización para tomar más deuda
POLITICA3 días agoKicillof quiere declarar en emergencia económica a la provincia y pide autorización para tomar más deuda
- ECONOMIA2 días ago
Lo que gana un cajero de supermercado en Argentina en 2025
- POLITICA2 días ago
Del Presupuesto al diálogo con los gobernadores: los desafíos y negociaciones que enfrenta el nuevo Gabinete
