INTERNACIONAL
Trump may look to his daughter-in-law to defend Senate seat in key battleground
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President Donald Trump calls Sen. Thom Tillis’ announcement that the two-term Republican senator won’t see re-election next year in battleground North Carolina «Great News.»
And with Tillis — who Trump torched this past weekend for not supporting his so-called «big, beautiful» spending and tax cut bill in a key test vote — now out of the picture in the midterms, it’s likely the president and his political team will be the kingmakers in the selection of the 2026 GOP nominee in North Carolina.
«It’s the president’s choice. The president and his team will have those conversations,» a Republican operative, pointing to Trump’s immense sway over the GOP, told Fox News.
TILLIS DENOUNCES TRUMP’S ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL ’ HOURS AFTER SURPRISE RETIREMENT ANNOUNCEMENT
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina announced on Sunday that he won’t seek re-election in 2026 to a third term in the U.S. Senate. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
«Does he have great choices? Absolutely,» said the strategist, who asked to remain anonymous to speak more freely.
Likely at the top of the list is Lara Trump, the president’s daughter-in-law who served last year, amid the 2024 presidential campaign, as co-chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC).
TRUMP REACTS TO TILLIS NOT SEEKING RE-ELECTION, SENDS WARNING TO ‘COST CUTTING REPUBLICANS’
Lara Trump, who grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina, and attended undergraduate studies at North Carolina State University, is married to the president’s son, Eric.
She stepped down from her post at the RNC late last year and currently hosts «My View with Lara Trump» on the Fox News Channel.
Lara Trump, seen at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 15, 2024, is seen as a potential Republican candidate in the race to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Thom Tillis. (Mike Segar/Reuters)
The Republican strategist highlighted that Lara Trump «has the name, but beyond that she is a fundraising powerhouse, and she has the discipline to be an incredible candidate and senator if she chooses to.»
«She’s probably the only person who should have ‘considering’ in the same sentence because she is the president’s daughter-in-law and that will be a consideration,» the operative added.
Four years ago, Lara Trump considered making a bid for an open Senate seat in North Carolina in the 2022 midterm elections.
«It would be an incredible thing. It’s my home state, a state I love so much, and look, I think we need some strong Republicans in Washington, D.C.,» she told Fox News at the time.
She ultimately decided against launching a campaign, citing her two young children as the main reason for her decision. But she did leave open the possibility of a future run for office in her home state.
Lara and Eric Trump own a home in Florida, and Lara Trump’s name was briefly mentioned late last year as a potential successor to Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who was nominated by Trump to serve as Secretary of State in his second administration.
«After an incredible amount of thought, contemplation, and encouragement from so many, I have decided to remove my name from consideration for the United States Senate, she said in a statement near the end of December.
Another name being floated in North Carolina is RNC Chair Michael Whatley.
Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley is interviewed by Fox News Digital, at the RNC headquarters in Washington D.C., on Dec. 12, 2024. (Fox News – Paul Steinhauser)
Whatley served five years as chair of the North Carolina GOP before Trump early last year picked him to succeed Ronna McDaniel as RNC chair.
«Chairman Whatley is honored to have been asked by President Trump to serve as Chair of the Republican National Committee following a hugely successful 2025, and is focused on grown Republican majorities in Congress,» an RNC adviser told Fox News when asked about the North Carolina Senate race.
WHAT MIKE WHATLEY TOLD FOX NEWS DIGITAL
Another name that comes up is Rep. Richard Hudson, who for a second straight cycle is chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Along with Whatley, Hudson, who for over a decade has represented a congressional district in the central section of North Carolina, is a strong Trump ally.
Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina, chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, is interviewed by Fox News Digital, on April 7, 2025 in Washington D.C. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)
A source familiar told Fox News that Hudson «is tight with Trump world, and if they really wanted him to run, he wouldn’t tell them no.»
A trio of first-term Republican congressmen in North Carolina may also have interest in the race to succeed Tillis.
Sources confirmed to Fox News that Rep. Pat Harrigan is eyeing a bid. Reps. Tim Moore and Brad Knott may also have interest. And four-term GOP Rep. Murphy may consider a run.
SCOOP: HOUSE REPUBLICAN EYES BID FOR THOM TILLIS SENATE SEAT AFTER TRUMP ATTACK
Some national Republicans are relieved that Tillis isn’t seeking re-election. Tillis, who has long been an independent thinker who crossed the political aisle to seek compromise, doesn’t poll well with the MAGA base.
Some Republican operatives familiar with Senate races suggested that the GOP would have an easier time energizing base voters in a smaller midterm electorate with a more conservative candidate than Tillis on the 2026 ballot as the GOP’s nominee in North Carolina.
And Trump loyalists saw the Tillis announcement as further proof of the president’s immense hold over the GOP.
Tillis, in a statement, noted that «in Washington over the last few years, it’s become increasingly evident that leaders who are willing to embrace bipartisanship, compromise, and demonstrate independent thinking are becoming an endangered species.»
In the race for the Democratic Senate nomination, former Rep. Wiley Nickel, a trial lawyer and former state senator, launched a bid earlier this year.
Then-Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat from North Carolina, speaks with reporters on Sept. 10, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)
But all eyes are on former two-term Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who is mulling a run. Cooper is viewed as the most formidable and prominent potential Democratic candidate for a seat his party is aiming to flip from red to blue.
But no Democrat has won a Senate race in North Carolina since 2008.
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Hours after Tillis’ announcement on Sunday, a top non-partisan political handicapper shifted their rating on the North Carolina Senate race from Lean Republican to Toss Up.
«The surprise move from Tillis moves this race into the Toss Up category and officially makes the Tar Heel State Democrats’ top pickup opportunity,» the Cook Report’s Jessica Walter said.
INTERNACIONAL
Decision to remove West Point crest from chapel Bibles reversed by secretary of the Army
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EXCLUSIVE: The secretary of the Army has ordered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to restore the school’s crest on the Bibles at the West Point Cadet Chapel, reversing a Biden-era decision to not include the crest when replacing the Bibles.
«Since the founding of West Point and before, generations of cadets, officers, and Soldiers have drawn strength and inspiration from God’s word,» Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll said in a Friday statement to Fox News Digital. «The decision to remove the Academy’s historic crest from the Bibles in the Cadet Chapel is yet another example of the previous administration pushing far-left politics into our military institutions. I am directing West Point to reverse this decision immediately and restore this important symbol of Duty, Honor, Country.»
WEST POINT BIBLE CREST CONTROVERSY SPURS PENTAGON LAWSUIT FROM CONSERVATIVE WATCHDOG
The Class of 2026 unveiled its crest during Plebe-Parent Weekend in March 2023. (U.S. Army)
Driscoll’s statement comes after Fox News Digital first reported that a conservative judicial and government watchdog group had filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit Tuesday against the Department of Defense over documents regarding why the crest was absent from the new Bibles.
A spokesperson for West Point declined to provide comment to Fox News Digital on Friday.
Judicial Watch first submitted a FOIA request in December 2024 seeking records related to the Bibles, after the MacArthur Society, a group for West Point graduates concerned about potential politicization at the military academy, notified them of the removal of the crest from the Bibles.
WEST POINT DECISION TO CUT ‘DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY’ FROM MISSION STATEMENT UNDER FIRE AGAIN’
Daniel Driscoll, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be the Department of Defense’s Secretary of the Army, testifies before a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on his nomination on Capitol Hill on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) (AP)
When asked for comment about the new Bibles, a spokesperson for West Point told Fox News Digital that the chapel’s Bibles now feature the name of the military academy.
«The bibles purchased for the West Point Cadet Chapel are emblazoned with ‘The United States Miliary Academy, West Point, New York,’» the spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News Digital Wednesday.
Judicial Watch filed the original FOIA request to learn more about the decision, due to concerns that the military academy is seeking to eliminate ties with what the group labels «traditional values.»
But after receiving no response for the documents, Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit against the Department of Defense for the documents Tuesday.
«Judicial Watch’s heavy lifting gets results,» Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said in a Friday statement to Fox News Digital. «Goes to show again how our lawsuits exposing corruption can fix corruption. The US Army and West Point can’t go wrong in honoring God.»
HEGSETH QUIPS ‘99.9%’ OF DEI INITIATIVES ARE GONE FROM THE MILITARY UNDER TRUMP’S WATCH
The graduating class of the United States Military Academy arrive for their graduation ceremony at West Point in Michie Stadium on May 24, 2025, in West Point, New York.
The Pentagon told Fox News Digital that it does not comment on pending litigation.
Combining religious content or symbols with military material has faced backlash historically.
In 2012, all four branches of the military pulled approval for a military series of Holman Christian Standard Bibles that had been sold in military exchanges amid concerns that the series indicated that the Bible served as the official religious text of the military services, according to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.
The West Point crest has undergone several iterations but historically has included an eagle above the school’s mascot, the Black Knights.
West Point is one of several U.S. military academies that train students to become military officers.
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The U.S. and Israel announced on Friday that their respective forces had killed terror leaders from ISIS and Hezbollah in separate counterterrorism operations.
CENTCOM troops carried out a raid in al-Bab, Aleppo Governorate, Syria, and killed senior ISIS leader Dhiya’ Zawba Muslih al-Hardani and his two adult sons, who also have ties to the terror organization, according to a statement from CENTCOM.
It added that three women and three children who «were also on the target» were unharmed in the raid.
«These ISIS individuals posed a threat to U.S. and Coalition Forces, as well as the new Syrian Government,» CENTCOM said in a statement.
A masked Islamic State terrorist poses holding the ISIS flag in 2015. (History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
CENTCOM ELIMINATES ISIS PLOTTER RESPONSIBLE FOR THREATENING US CITIZENS, PARTNERS AND CIVILIANS
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a U.K.-based organization, said the raid was the first of its kind. The group also stated that ground troops of SDF-backed special units and Damascus special forces participated in the operation, though Fox News Digital was unable to confirm their involvement.
Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM commander, vowed U.S. forces would «relentlessly pursue ISIS terrorists.»
«ISIS terrorists are not safe where they sleep, where they operate and where they hide,» Kurilla said in a statement. «Alongside our partners and allies, U.S. Central Command is committed to the enduring defeat of ISIS terrorists that threaten the region, our allies and our homeland.»
U.S. forces patrol in the vicinity of the Hori rehabilitation center for children of the suspected Islamic State group in the town of Tel Maaruf in Syria’s northeastern Hasakeh province Dec. 15, 2022. (Delil Souleiman/AFP via Getty Images)
IDF KILLS KEY HAMAS FOUNDER AND MASTERMIND OF OCT 7 TERROR ATTACK IN ISRAEL
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced its troops had killed Ali Mohammad Hassan Qoutan, who served as the personnel officer for Hezbollah’s Bint Jbeil sector. According to the IDF, Qoutan was involved in efforts to rebuild the organization, which was dealt a blow when Israel killed its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in September 2024.
Mourners attend the funeral of slain Hezbollah leaders Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine at the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium on the outskirts of Beirut Feb. 23, 2025. (Anwar Amro/AFP via Getty Images)
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«The terrorist’s activities constitute a blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon,» the IDF wrote in a statement.
Israel recently concluded a 12-day war with Iran while simultaneously fighting Hamas in Gaza in a war that has been ongoing since the brutal attacks of Oct. 7, 2023.
¿Qué significa en la práctica?
Importancia simbólica y diplomática
Francia,Palestina,Israel
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