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Meet the AI, crypto executive cozying up to Trump while also backing resistance movement: ‘Won’t be fooled’
FIRST ON FOX: One of the major players in the crypto and artificial intelligence (AI) industries attempting to cozy up to the Trump administration is a longtime Democratic operative and donor who has backed anti-Trump efforts and candidates while working for companies stacked with Democratic activists.
Chris Lehane, a veteran political strategist dating back to the Clinton administration, has donated over $150,000 to Democrats, FEC records show, and many of those Democrats have been outspoken Trump critics for several years.
Lehane has been a major backer of Democratic Sen. Mark Warner, who voted to convict Trump during his impeachment trial in 2021 and against several of Trump’s Cabinet nominees. He also hosted a San Francisco fundraiser for the Virginia senator, along with Open AI’s Sam Altman, in March.
Warner has been a key figure in the resistance to the Trump administration, including being a vocal critic of the Trump administration’s «sloppy» Signal chat controversy and pushing back on the administration’s DOGE push against waste, fraud and abuse in government. Lehane also donated thousands of dollars to the Biden and Harris campaigns.
TRUMP CRYPTO CHIEF SAYS WE ARE IN THE ‘GOLDEN AGE’ FOR DIGITAL ASSETS, ‘CLEARING THE DECK’ OF BIDEN BARRIERS
Chris Lehane and Donald Trump (Getty)
In 2024, Lehane joined the board of Coinbase, which operates one of the largest crypto exchanges in the world, and has taken an active role influencing crypto and AI policy in recent months.
Coinbase’s Board of Directors and prominent investors have donated more than $22 million to Democratic candidates and committees while donating less than $5 million to Republicans, FEC records show.
Those donations include almost $50,000 to Kamala Harris’ campaign since 2009, including to her presidential campaign, from top Coinbase investor and Democratic donor Ron Conway.
Conway has donated over $300,000 to the DNC, over $1.5 million to the DCCC and millions to the House Majority PAC and Senate Majority PAC, FEC records show.
Since 1999, board member Fred Wilson has given over $2 million to political campaigns and committees, and only $17,600 of that went to Republicans, FEC records show.
MR. WONDERFUL TALKS ‘EXCITEMENT’ AROUND CRYPTOCURRENCY UNDER TRUMP: AMERICA IS IN A ‘NEW PHASE’
Additionally, Coinbase’s Global Advisory Council is laden with Trump critics, including John Anzelone, a pollster for Biden, Obama and Hillary Clinton; former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper; former Democratic mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa; former GOP Sen. Pat Toomey, who said in September he would not vote for Trump; and former Democratic Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy, who served on the January 6th Select Committee.
Julia Krieger, Coinbase’s head of U.S. public affairs, previously worked for American Bridge, a Democratic opposition research firm, and Media Matters, known for organizing pressure campaigns against conservative voices it opposes. She also held multiple roles in the Biden administration and the 2020 Biden campaign.
Coinbase does have two Trump allies on its advisory board — David Urban and recently appointed Chris LaCivita, who served as the Republican National Committee’s chief operating officer and held multiple titles on the successful 2024 Trump campaign. Additionally, several members of Coinbase’s executive team have donated to Republicans, including Brian Armstrong and Paul Grewal.
President Donald Trump smiles after signing an executive order. (AP/Alex Brandon)
Armstrong, the company’s CEO, was present at the Trump White House crypto summit earlier this year.
Open Secrets data from the 2024 election cycle shows a roughly 50-50 split between Coinbase’s donations to congressional Democrats and Republicans.
«Our focus has always been mission first, to support candidates that support crypto and blockchain innovation, and we’re proud to do so,» Coinbase Chief Policy Officer Faryar Shirzad, a former top NSC official under President George W. Bush, told Fox News Digital.
Lehane also serves as the vice president of global affairs at OpenAI, a company that Fox News Digital reported on recently. It partnered with a new AI initiative led by a group co-founded with outgoing Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry that has pushed left-wing causes and has several board members aligned with Democrats.
The longtime Democratic operative is also an operating partner at Haun Ventures, which is staffed by employees who appear to donate almost exclusively to Democrats. Since 2022, individuals listed as being employed by Haun Ventures have made 43 separate political contributions totaling over $110,000. All 43 of those were to Democratic candidates or organizations.
Lehane is credited with coining the phrase «vast right-wing conspiracy» to describe the Monica Lewinsky scandal while he was working for the Clinton administration and has been labeled in the media as a «master of the political dark arts.»
A man holding cryptocurrency coins (Kurt «CyberGuy» Knutsson)
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«Shocking, another Trump hater is trying to cozy up to Trump for business purposes,» a person close to the Trump administration told Fox News Digital. «Trump won’t be fooled.»
Lately, Lehane has been vocal about efforts to cozy up to the incoming administration, which has made advancing crypto and AI technology a priority, and even visited the White House in March. He «has had many meetings with Trump administration officials about AI policy, and expects a full strategy to be released by the summer,» Axios reported.
«There’s a real focus from the administration on developing an AI strategy to ensure U.S. economic competitiveness and national security are prioritized,» Lehane told the outlet.
«Our work stream is intersecting with where the administration is going.»
Lehane penned an op-ed for Fox News in March, «Securing the AI future: How President Trump’s action plan can position America for success.»
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect that Ron Conway is a top investor of Coinbase and not a board member.
Politics,Donald Trump,Bill Clinton,Democratic Party
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Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said the assassination of Charlie Kirk was a sign of a «deep rift» in American society, while offering his condolences to the family of the late conservative activist.
Speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi at a forum of Russian experts, Putin addressed the killing, according to Reuters.
«This is a disgusting atrocity, especially since it was broadcast live. We all saw it. It was truly horrific,» Putin said. «First and foremost, I extend my condolences to Mr. Kirk’s family and all his loved ones. We sympathize and empathize.
JD VANCE DECLARES THERE IS ‘NO UNITY’ WITH PEOPLE WHO CELEBRATE CHARLIE KIRK’S ASSASSINATION
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday condemned the killing of Charlie Kirk while speaking to a panel of Russian experts. (Getty Images)
«What happened is a reflection of a deep division within society. In the United States, I don’t believe there is any need to escalate the situation externally, as the country’s political leadership is working to restore order domestically,» he added.
Kirk was shot and killed in September while speaking at Utah Valley University.
His alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, faces seven charges, including aggravated homicide, which carries the potential death penalty; felony discharge of a firearm; obstruction and witness tampering.
Robinson returned to court Monday and is scheduled to appear again Oct. 30. Prosecutors said they had already gathered «voluminous» evidence against him.
TRUMP DEFENDS LABELING ANTIFA A ‘TERRORIST ORGANIZATION’ AS HE TARGETS LEFT-WING EXTREMISM
Charlie Kirk speaks before he is assassinated during Turning Point’s visit to Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, Sept. 10, 2025. (Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via AP)
Kirk’s murder has intensified debate over political violence in the United States. Republican leaders have urged Democrats to moderate their rhetoric toward President Donald Trump and to embrace greater tolerance for opposing views.
In addition to addressing Kirk’s death, Putin responded to Trump’s recent characterization of Russia as a «paper tiger.»
«A paper tiger? Then go deal with this paper tiger,» Putin said. «If we are fighting the entire NATO bloc, moving forward, advancing and feeling confident, and we are still called a paper tiger, then what does that make NATO itself?»
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Last week, Trump predicted Ukraine could reclaim all its territory from Russia before labeling Moscow a «paper tiger.»
vladimir putin,charlie kirk,russia
El canciller alemán Friedrich Merz insistió este jueves desde una cumbre de líderes europeos en Copenhague que apoyará “cualquier vía” que permita utilizar activos rusos congelados para conceder un préstamo de reparación a Ucrania. Merz confió en que la Unión Europea tome una decisión en “semanas”, a pesar de que Bélgica rechaza de plano la propuesta por considerarla una “confiscación” con lagunas legales.
“Apoyaré cualquier vía que permita el uso de activos rusos para seguir ayudando a Ucrania y garantizar que la guerra termine lo antes posible”, declaró Merz a la prensa al término de la cumbre de líderes de la Comunidad Política Europea (CPE) celebrada en la capital danesa.
El mandatario alemán se refirió a la próxima cumbre formal de jefes de Estado y de Gobierno de la Unión, prevista para dentro de tres semanas en Bruselas, y confió en que entonces se tome una “decisión concreta”. Tras dos días de reuniones al máximo nivel en Copenhague, Merz afirmó tener la convicción de que existe un “fuerte acuerdo” tanto en el seno de la UE como de la CPE respecto a seguir esa vía.
“Putin no debería subestimar nuestra determinación. Hay una gran unidad y una firme determinación de contrarrestar juntos esta agresión”, insistió.
La cita danesa fue la primera ocasión para que los líderes europeos examinaran la propuesta que la presidenta de la Comisión Europea, Ursula von der Leyen, circuló entre las capitales: usar los activos soberanos rusos congelados en Bélgica —en el depósito de fondos Euroclear— para conceder un préstamo a Kiev.
Al término de la jornada, en una rueda de prensa junto a la primera ministra danesa, Mette Frederiksen, el presidente de Ucrania, Volodimir Zelensky, celebró que “casi todos los líderes estén planteando el pleno uso de los fondos congelados rusos”.
Frederiksen, por su parte, concedió que el debate del miércoles sobre este asunto fue “intenso” y que afloraron “algunas cuestiones técnicas que deben ser resueltas”, pero al mismo tiempo se mostró “bastante segura” de que sabrán resolverlas. “Es justo que Rusia pague por los daños que ha causado”, zanjó.
El crédito sin intereses tendría un valor de unos 140.000 millones de euros y Ucrania solo tendría que devolverlo si llegara la paz y Moscú indemnizara al país por los daños de la guerra.
El Ejecutivo comunitario y los defensores de la iniciativa sostienen que no se trataría de una “confiscación” de los activos, pero Bélgica niega respaldo al plan. Su primer ministro, Bart de Wever, advirtió este jueves en rueda de prensa sobre el riesgo de trasladar el mensaje de que “un grupo de países pueden, simplemente, decidir políticamente cogerlo (el dinero) y dárselo en un préstamo” a otro país.
«Ceci n’est pas une confiscation» (Esto no es una confiscación), ironizó De Wever, usando el título de uno de los cuadros más conocidos del pintor surrealista belga René Magritte, La traición de las imágenes, en el que se ve una pipa de fumar sobre la frase “Esto no es una pipa”.
El político belga reveló que la víspera trasladó al resto de líderes de la UE sus dudas legales respecto a un proyecto “sin precedentes” y “muy arriesgado”, y criticó a Von der Leyen porque su Ejecutivo no respondió con claridad a todas estas preocupaciones en las semanas en que Bélgica pidió aclaraciones.
Con todo, De Wever dejó la puerta abierta a reconsiderar la situación si de aquí al Consejo Europeo de finales de octubre se responde a las dudas legales y si el resto de países se comprometen a mutualizar los riesgos y garantizan que responderán junto a Bélgica “si algo va mal”.
Por su parte, el primer ministro de Hungría, Viktor Orbán, que por distintas razones mantiene un veto regular contra toda iniciativa europea de apoyo a Ucrania frente a Rusia, criticó con dureza que la UE se plantee usar los fondos en efectivo congelados.
“No somos ladrones, ese dinero no es nuestro”, afirmó Orbán a la prensa a su salida de la cumbre, para insistir en que “de ninguna manera” Hungría formará parte de un proyecto que supone “tocar el dinero de otro”.
International,Relations,Diplomacy / Foreign Policy,Europe
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Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., accused the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of endangering women’s health, saying the agency approved another chemical abortion drug without the thorough safety review it had promised.
Hawley argued the move shows both regulatory failure and the influence of a company that refuses to define «woman» in its materials.
«This is shocking. FDA has just approved ANOTHER chemical abortion drug, when the evidence shows chemical abortion drugs are dangerous and even deadly for the mother. And of course 100% lethal to the child,» he wrote on X on Thursday afternoon.
«FDA had promised to do a top-to-bottom safety review of the chemical abortion drug, but instead they’ve just greenlighted new versions of it for distribution. I have lost confidence in the leadership at FDA.»
PRO-LIFE GROUP URGES SENATE TO PRESS RFK JR. ON ABORTION PILL SAFETY, DEMAND SAFEGUARDS RETURN
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., accused the Food and Drug Administration of endangering women’s health after it approved another chemical abortion drug without what he said was a promised full safety review. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Evita Solutions describes its mission as one to «normalize abortion» and make it «accessible to all.» On its website, the company says it «believes that all people should have access to safe, affordable, high-quality, effective, and compassionate abortion care, regardless of their race, sex, gender, age, sexuality, income, or where they live.
«We know that you can make the best choice for your body.»
According to the FDA, Evita received approval in a Sept. 30 letter obtained by Reuters.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Hawley said the FDA’s decision was even more troubling given its promised safety review has barely begun.
«I just, I can’t figure out what’s happening at the FDA. I’m totally baffled by it,» Hawley said.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the FDA and Evita Solutions for comment on the matter.
FDA CHIEF HAS NO ‘PLANS’ FOR ABORTION PILL POLICY CHANGES BUT CONTINUES SAFETY REVIEW
In another post, Hawley blasted the FDA for partnering with a company that «doesn’t even believe there is such a thing as a ‘woman.’»
Evita Solutions now joins GenBioPro in producing the generic version of mifepristone, the abortion pill originally made by Danco Laboratories. Mifepristone blocks progesterone, a hormone needed to sustain pregnancy, and is followed by misoprostol to complete the process.
The approval comes as abortion drugs face mounting opposition from conservative lawmakers, religious organizations and pro-life groups.
MORE THAN 20 GOP ATTORNEYS GENERAL CALL ON RFK JR, FDA TO REINSTATE SAFEGUARDS FOR ABORTION DRUGS
Misoprostol, left, and mifepristone, the two drugs used in a medication abortion. (Robyn Bech/AFP via Getty Images)
Religious groups like Inspire Investing and Alliance Defending Freedom have campaigned against the drug, while the Restoration of America Foundation (ROAF) has pressed lawmakers for accountability.
Last month, ROAF called on the Senate Finance Committee to hold Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. accountable at a hearing, demanding answers about the removal of safety protocols for the abortion pill mifepristone.
In a letter obtained by Fox News Digital, ROAF warned that the rollback leaves women more vulnerable and shifts costs to taxpayers. The group said the Biden-era changes endanger women by allowing abortion pills to be prescribed via telehealth and sent through the mail.
Hawley said the FDA should restore the safeguards put in place under the Trump administration.
«What needs to happen is the FDA needs to get in line with the president’s policy and put back into place the safety regulations President Trump had. Ditch the Biden approach and go back to President Trump’s approach,» Hawley said.
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Under the Biden administration, the FDA for the first time allowed telehealth prescribing and mail-order delivery of abortion pills. Previously, the agency required mifepristone to be dispensed in person to screen for complications such as ectopic pregnancy.
Fox News Digital’s Jasmine Baehr and Reuters contributed to this report.
reproductive health,abortion,health,health care healthy living,pregnancy,politics
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