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Coast Guard defends dropping hate label for swastikas, nooses, Confederate flags
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The Coast Guard is downplaying its policy change to no longer refer to displays of swastikas and nooses as a «hate incident» — after it distributed new guidance to remove the term «hate incident» from its vocabulary altogether.
While the service previously identified displays of swastikas, nooses, Confederate flags, and other supremacist or antisemitic symbols as a «potential hate incident,» the new guidance now labels them as «potentially divisive symbols and flags.» The change was first reported by The Washington Post.
Despite the alteration, the Coast Guard claims that it remains committed to barring the symbols from the service and penalizing those who display them. Additionally, it said that it still considers the symbols «extremist imagery.»
«The claims that the U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses or other extremist imagery as prohibited symbols are categorically false,» Adm. Kevin Lunday, acting commandant of the Coast Guard, said in a Thursday statement to Fox News Digital. «These symbols have been and remain prohibited in the Coast Guard per policy.»
The Coast Guard is downplaying its policy change to no longer refer to displays of swastikas and nooses as a «hate incident.» (U.S. Coast Guard)
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«Any display, use or promotion of such symbols, as always, will be thoroughly investigated and severely punished,» Lunday said. «The Coast Guard remains unwavering in its commitment to fostering a safe, respectful and professional workplace. Symbols such as swastikas, nooses and other extremist or racist imagery violate our core values and are treated with the seriousness they warrant under current policy.»
The new guidances state that the public display of the Confederate battle flag is banned and will be pulled from all Coast Guard workplaces, common access areas, public areas or operating facilities. Previous guidance also prohibited such public display of the Confederate battle flag.
Commanding officers and other leaders are instructed to inquire about public displays of other symbols identified as «potentially divisive,» and are granted the authority to direct or order the removal of those that negatively impact moral and mission readiness.
The Coast Guard said that its updates on its harassment policy were made in alignment with orders from President Donald Trump and the Pentagon. (Marta Lavandier/The Associated Press )
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The guidance also says it is completely eradicating the term «hate incident,» and that incidents that were previously handled as a «potential hate incident» will not be processed as a harassment report.
«Conduct previously handled as a potential hate incident, including those involving symbols widely identified with oppression or hatred, is processed as a report of harassment in cases with an identified aggrieved individual…The terminology ‘hate incident’ is no longer present in policy,» the new guidance said.
The Coast Guard did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital on why it removed the term «hate incident» from its new guidance.
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Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem (right) pilots a U.S. Coast Guard response boat-small with the Maritime Security Response Team in San Diego, March 16, 2025. (Alex Brandon / POOL / AFP)
The new guidance also puts some limits on when harassment reports can be made. The updated policy dictates that reports of harassment, excluding those of sexual harassment, be made within 45 calendar days of an incident. The new guidance does say that there is some «discretion for reports to be accepted beyond this time frame.»
That’s a departure from the service’s previous policy, which did not have a deadline in place for reporting these incidents.
After the Post’s initial report on the update, the top Democrat on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, Rep. Rick Larsen of Washington, said there is no room for debate over whether nooses or swastikas are hate symbols.
«Lynching is a federal hate crime. The world defeated the Nazis in 1945. The debate on these symbols is over. They symbolize hate,» Larsen, whose committee has oversight authority over the Coast Guard, said in a statement Thursday. «Coast Guard: be better.»
The Coast Guard is the only branch of the military to fall under the Department of Homeland Security, but has launched initiatives including Force Design 2028 to revamp its organizational structure, acquisitions, contracting and technology, among other changes, to align more closely with other services that fall under the purview of the Department of War.
The Coast Guard said that its updates on its harassment policy were made in alignment with orders from President Donald Trump and the Pentagon.
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The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital on whether it was eyeing similar changes in policy for its military branches. However, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth instructed the Pentagon to conduct a review of its hazing and harassment policies in September.
The Pentagon also has its own set of extremism guidelines, which effectively bans displaying Confederate flags or those with a swastika on them. Only preapproved flags, including state flags or military service flags, are permitted.
coast guard,donald trump,pentagon,homeland security
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Walz proposes $10M business relief package as Republicans cry ‘new avenue for fraud’ in Minnesota
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Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz was slammed online by Republicans after proposing a $10 million emergency relief package for small businesses across the state impacted by the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
Walz unveiled the proposal Thursday after Border Czar Tom Homan announced that Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota would be ending. The proposal calls for forgivable loans ranging from $2,500 to $25,000 to be distributed to eligible businesses that are able to demonstrate «substantial revenue loss» during «specified dates» tied to the operation.
«The campaign of retribution by the federal administration has been more than a short-term disruption; it has inflicted long-term damage on Minnesota communities,» Walz said in a statement. «Recovery will not happen overnight. Families, workers, and business owners are feeling the effects, and our responsibility is clear: we will help rebuild, stabilize these businesses, protect jobs, and ensure Minnesota’s economy can recover and thrive.»
Republicans quickly criticized the proposal as Minnesota continues to face extensive fraud allegations.
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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz proposed a $10 million emergency relief package for small businesses impacted by the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. (Jerry Holt/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images)
President Donald Trump previously claimed that fraud in Minnesota exceeded $19 billion.
Dozens of people have been prosecuted in Minnesota in recent years for alleged large-scale welfare fraud schemes involving food assistance and autism services. Federal prosecutors have alleged the schemes stole hundreds of millions of dollars from taxpayer-funded programs, with separate investigations also examining alleged fraud in the state’s daycare system.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn. reacted to the governor’s proposal on X, saying, «BREAKING: Tim Walz opens up a new avenue for fraud in Minnesota.»
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Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks to reporters after he announced that he would not seek reelection, at the Minnesota State Capitol on Jan. 5, 2026. (Reuters/Tim Evans)
Minnesota Republican state Sen. Michael Holmstrom said on X that the proposal would be an «immediate NO from me,» adding that Minnesota taxpayers «do not deserve to have more money stolen from them.»
Others referenced fraud related to Minnesota’s daycare system, including Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., who responded to the proposal on X, «Does that include learing centers?»
His post referenced a typo that read «Quality Learing Center,» which was eventually corrected. The Quality Learning Center was infamously featured in a video by YouTuber Nick Shirley, who visited multiple daycare centers across Minnesota that allegedly received public funds but were not providing any services.
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Gov. Tim Walz unveiled an emergency loan plan tied to the economic impact of federal immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images and Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images)
The governor’s office included a statement from Henry Garnica, the owner of CentroMex in East St. Paul, who said the past few months during the immigration operation have been «some of the hardest I’ve experienced as a business owner.»
«Sales are down, we have limited hours, and we have had to change how we operate,» he stated. That’s not who we are as a neighborhood store. This proposed forgivable loan package would give businesses like mine breathing room — to keep employees on payroll and keep our doors open. For some of us, it could mean the difference between surviving and closing for good.»
On Thursday, Walz demanded that the federal government «pay for what they broke» after the Trump administration said it would draw down its presence in the Twin Cities.
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Walz said during a news conference that federal law enforcement’s presence in the state was leaving «deep damage» and «generational trauma.»
Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.
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USS Ford ordered to the Middle East, the second aircraft carrier being sent to the region
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The USS Gerald R. Ford has been ordered to move from the Caribbean Sea to the Middle East, as President Donald Trump weighs whether to take military action against Iran amid tensions in the region, a U.S. official confirmed to Fox News.
This will put two aircraft carriers and their accompanying warships in the region. The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and three guided-missile destroyers arrived in the Middle East more than two weeks ago.
The USS Ford, which set out on deployment in June 2025, was sent from the Mediterranean Sea to the Caribbean last fall as the administration established a significant military presence ahead of the operation to strike Venezuela and capture its president, Nicolás Maduro.
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The USS Gerald R. Ford has been ordered to move from the Caribbean Sea to the Middle East. (Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ridge Leoni/U.S. Navy via AP)
On Thursday, Trump warned Iran that failure to reach a deal with the U.S. regarding its nuclear program would be «very traumatic» after the two countries held indirect talks in Oman last week.
«It should happen quickly. They should agree very quickly,» he told reporters.
The move will put two aircraft carriers and their accompanying warships in the region. (Jonathan Klein/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday and said he insisted to the Israeli leader that negotiations with Iran must continue.
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The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and three guided-missile destroyers arrived in the Middle East more than two weeks ago. (Mike Blake/Reuters)
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Netanyahu is calling on the Trump administration to push Tehran to scale back its ballistic missile program and end its support for terror groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah as part of any deal.
Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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El Partido Nacionalista de Bangladesh se adjudicó una victoria electoral “aplastante” y Tarique Rahman se perfila como primer ministro
El Partido Nacionalista de Bangladesh (BNP) se adjudicó una victoria contundente en las elecciones parlamentarias celebradas el viernes, la cual marcó el regreso del partido al poder tras el levantamiento de 2024 y el fin de 15 años de gobierno de la jeque y ex primera ministra de Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina.
Su líder, Tarique Rahman, está a punto de convertirse en primer ministro, según los resultados provisionales. El líder del BNP, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, declaró una “victoria aplastante” y pidió a sus seguidores celebrar el resultado con oraciones en mezquitas, en vez de manifestaciones en las calles.
Miles de simpatizantes esperaron los resultados frente a las oficinas del partido durante la noche.
La embajada de Estados Unidos en Dhaka felicitó al vencedor de los comicios y al BNP por lo que calificó como una “victoria histórica”, según un comunicado de la embajada estadounidense en Dhaka.
El primer ministro de India, Narendra Modi, celebró la victoria del partido y congratuló a su líder: “Transmito mis más sinceras felicitaciones al Sr. Tarique Rahman por liderar al BNP hacia una victoria decisiva en las elecciones parlamentarias de Bangladesh. Esta victoria demuestra la confianza del pueblo bangladesí en su liderazgo. La India seguirá apoyando un Bangladesh democrático, progresista e inclusivo”
A las 8:00 am (horario local) del viernes, las proyecciones de medios locales indicaban que el BNP superó el umbral necesario para una clara mayoría en el Parlamento, con el canal Jamuna estimando 212 escaños para el partido.
La coalición islamista liderada por Jamaat-e-Islami, que realizó una campaña centrada en la justicia y la lucha contra la corrupción, alcanzó 70 escaños, un avance significativo respecto a elecciones previas.
La Comisión Electoral, que aún no ha publicado los resultados finales, anunció que el cómputo definitivo se dará a conocer el viernes por la mañana para 299 de los 300 distritos electorales. Otros 50 escaños, reservados a mujeres, serán asignados a partir de listas partidarias.
La votación transcurrió en su mayoría de manera pacífica, aunque la campaña estuvo marcada por enfrentamientos que causaron cinco muertes y más de 600 heridos. Observadores de la ONU advirtieron sobre un clima de intolerancia, desinformación y amenazas durante el proceso electoral.
El líder interino Muhammad Yunus, quien asumió tras la destitución de Hasina en agosto de 2024 y cuya administración prohibió la participación del parido de la jeque, instó a la calma y a la unidad nacional hasta la transición del poder.
Yunus, Premio Nobel de la Paz, impulsó una carta de reforma democrática que fue sometida a referéndum junto con las elecciones, y las proyecciones apuntan a un respaldo mayoritario del electorado.
Desde su escondite en la India, Hasina, condenada a muerte en ausencia, calificó las elecciones como “ilegales e inconstitucionales”. Entretanto, Rahman y el BNP celebran un triunfo que sus dirigentes interpretan como un mandato para dejar atrás los años de represión y renovar el sistema político bangladesí.
“Esta victoria era esperada. No es de extrañar que el pueblo de Bangladesh haya depositado su confianza en un partido (…) capaz de hacer realidad los sueños que nuestros jóvenes imaginaron durante el levantamiento”, reivindicó este viernes a la agencia AFP Salahuddin Ahmed, miembro destacado del comité del BNP.
El político eclipsado durante mucho tiempo por sus padres y heredero de una de las dinastías políticas más poderosas de Bangladesh, finalmente saltó a la fama.
A sus 60 años, el líder del Partido Nacionalista de Bangladesh (BNP) se prepara para hacerse cargo de la nación del sur de Asia de 170 millones de habitantes, impulsado por lo que él llama una ambición de “hacerlo mejor”.
Su ascenso marca un cambio notable para un hombre que regresó a Bangladesh en diciembre después de 17 años de exilio en Gran Bretaña, lejos de las tormentas políticas de Dhaka.
Ampliamente conocido como Tarique Zia, lleva un nombre político que ha marcado cada etapa de su vida. Tenía 15 años cuando su padre, el presidente Ziaur Rahman, fue asesinado en 1981.
(Con información de AFP)
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