INTERNACIONAL
Ousted director says America250 leaders ‘hate Trump more than they love America’ after firing for Kirk post
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EXCLUSIVE: The commission planning America’s 250th birthday celebration is run by people «who hate President Trump more than they love America,» the group’s former executive director told Fox News Digital after he was fired from his job for posting on social media to mourn Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
Ariel Abergel, 25, was terminated from the bipartisan America250 Commission recently for what the outfit referred to as a «security breach of a commission social-media account.»
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The claim of a «security breach» is «fake news,» however, a Trump administration official told Fox News Digital.
«Ari always had access to the social media accounts and was posting a message honoring the memory of Charlie Kirk,» the official said.
Former America250 executive director Ariel Abergel was fired from the commission for posting in memory of Charlie Kirk on the commission’s social media accounts. (Ariel Abergel)
Abergel will be given a different role within the Trump administration, the official told Fox News Digital.
An America250 spokesperson said the group was justified in making the move.
«The U.S. Congressional Semiquincentennial Commission has terminated the employment of its Executive Director, Ari Abergel, effective immediately after he initiated a security breach of a Commission social media account, attempted to procure the resignations of multiple commissioners by misrepresenting himself as acting on behalf of Congressional leadership, and engaged in multiple other serious and repeated breaches of authority and trust,» the commission said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
Abergel was appointed to the board earlier in 2025 by the Trump administration.
«I was appointed to oversee America250 and execute on President Trump’s vision for America250 and on behalf of the board,» Abergel told Fox News Digital. «But the board and the president were not necessarily aligned.»
The bipartisan commission is chaired by Rosie Rios, a former aide to President Barack Obama who was appointed to the group by President Joe Biden.
Abergel told Fox News Digital that the commission «has been plagued by years of dysfunction, greed, and cronyism.»
«America250 is run by people who hate President Trump,» Abergel told Fox News Digital. «This firing is proof of that, and I wear it as a badge of honor.»
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Sources familiar with the situation told Fox News Digital that, before his firing, Abergel had asked Rios to release a statement that would condemn political violence following Kirk’s assassination, but Rios allegedly refused to do so.
Abergel then used America250 social media channels to post a tribute to Kirk, using the commission’s Instagram account to post a photo with a caption reading: «America is in mourning. God bless Charlie Kirk.»
Attendees pick up posters of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk during a vigil at Desert Financial Arena on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, Sept. 15, 2025. (Rebecca Noble/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
After he posted the message, a source familiar told Fox News Digital that Abergel received a phone call from counsel for America250, threatening him with legal action on behalf of the commission for using the social media account.
During the call, Abergel was accused of «theft of government property,» the source said, adding that commission leadership «took particular issue with the fact that the post mentioned God,» noting that it was «too divisive» for America250’s accounts.
The next day, Abergel received a formal notice from America250 counsel informing him that his access to the office and IT systems and his email account had been revoked. He was then asked to resign but refused, the source said.
The following week, Abergel was formally notified that his employment was terminated, the source said.
As for the content of the post, an America250 spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the organization «is not in the business of commenting on news, no matter how horrible.»
President Donald Trump, left, and Ariel Abergel, right. (Ariel Abergel)
«In recent weeks, Mr. Abergel defied directives from the Commission’s executive committee, engaged in unauthorized actions related to Commission-approved programming, finances, and communications, jeopardizing the Commission’s operations and reputation,» the America250 spokesperson said in the group’s statement. «The bipartisan Commission remains committed to delivering a once-in-a-lifetime celebration for the nation’s 250th anniversary and will promptly appoint a new executive director, in consultation with the White House and Task Force 250.»
An America250 spokesperson also said social media platforms and the commission’s website had been removed from Abergel’s authority. Those responsibilities were transferred to another commission employee, according to the spokesperson.
«Despite that clear written directive, Ari logged into the account, changed the password and its two-factor authentication contact, effectively locking the commission out of the account,» the spokesperson said. «Ari was treated the same as any other federal employee who initiated a security breach of a government agency social media account, repeatedly defied direct orders from his employer, and misrepresented his authority in attempting to procure the resignations of multiple members of the agency’s governing body.»
American250 claims Abergel’s actions were the basis for his termination, but did not provide specific examples of the alleged «insubordination and subversive behavior.»
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But Abergel defended his work, stressing that «every major decision I made had the support of the White House, and in many cases, congressional leadership.»
«There was no misrepresentation,» he said.
President Donald Trump meets with White House staff and America250 Executive Director Ariel Abergel, left, discussing the 250th Anniversary of the U.S. Army Grand Military Parade in the Oval Office, June 3, 2025. (Joyce N. Boghosian/White House)
White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly told Fox News Digital that the Trump administration is «incredibly proud of all of Ari Abergel’s work at America250 — most notably during the Army250 parade, which boldly honored the bravery and strength of our military men and women.»
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«Through the White House Task Force established by President Trump’s January Executive Order, we will continue to coordinate closely with America250 to ensure that all events heading into our nation’s 250th birthday are given the grand celebration our country deserves,» Kelly said.
As for the commission’s relationship with the president and the Trump administration, the America250 spokesperson told Fox News Digital that America250 «is proud to have the leadership of President Trump as we prepare and plan for America’s 250th birthday milestone.»
«The President and his team have been and will be great partners as we create the largest and most inspiring celebration and commemoration in our nation’s history,» the spokesperson said.
america 250,white house,donald trump,charlie kirk
INTERNACIONAL
Jeb Bush commends former rival Trump’s Iran operation: ‘This is their time to take their country back’
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FIRST ON FOX: A major public policy nonprofit co-led by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush praised President Donald Trump for ordering Saturday’s military strikes against Iran.
United Against a Nuclear Iran (UANI) — was formed in 2008 by Ambassador Mark Wallace, who held a United Nations-centered post in Bush’s brother’s administration, and former George H.W. Bush diplomat Dennis Ross — to combat threats posed by the Islamic Republic.
The group has been on the front lines of highlighting Iran’s human rights abuses and attacks on Americans and advising policymakers and the business community about dangers posed by Tehran.
The organization counsels existing and would-be commercial partners of Iran regarding the legal, financial and reputational risks of that kind of commerce.
«UANI salutes the courage and professionalism of American and Israeli service members carrying out this historic mission against the Iranian regime,» Bush and Wallace told Fox News Digital Saturday.
Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump, left, and Jeb Bush take part in a presidential debate at the Reagan Library Sept. 16, 2015, in Simi Valley, Calif. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
«We applaud President Trump for his courageous decision to launch this military operation. For 47 years, the Iranian regime has unleashed terror, violence and misery — against its own people and across the region — while threatening the United States, Israel and our allies.»
Bush, who ran against Trump in a bruising 2016 primary, and Wallace noted that many presidents tried to bring Iran into the «peaceful community of nations» but were not able to finish the job.
«This president engaged extensively and in good faith to achieve a diplomatic solution,» they said after Trump indicated as recently as last week he wanted to negotiate terms.
«The regime chose escalation and continued its pursuit of nuclear weapons. The responsibility for this moment rests squarely with Ayatollah Khamenei.»
Khamenei, 86, was declared dead by Israeli sources by late afternoon.
Bush and Wallace added it was clear the joint American-Israeli operation was directed not at Iran, the country and citizenry, but at Khamenei’s «lethal capabilities.»
The Iranian people, they said, have long suffered under repression and that Trump’s message since the strikes began is one that should be embraced by all Americans: «We aim to see Iran free, prosperous, and at peace. This is their time to take their great country back.»
«The Butcher of Tehran is dead,» Bush and Wallace added in a separate public statement.
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Bush added in a statement on X that «Operation Epic Fury marks a historic mission against the Iranian regime.»
«We salute the courage and professionalism of American and Israeli service members and commend for his courageous decision,» he added.
Bush’s relationship with Trump has appeared to warm since their bitter feuds of a decade ago.
During the 2016 sweeps, Trump nicknamed the Republican Party scion «Low Energy Jeb,» while Bush quipped that the mogul would not be able to «insult your way to the presidency» after the eventual victor mocked an ad that former first lady Barbara Bush filmed for her son.
While governor, Bush made improving public education a hallmark of his administration in Tallahassee. Bush implemented stricter proficiency standards in elementary education and signed what was dubbed the «A+ plan,» making Florida the first state to require clear letter grades on student performance.
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He recently praised the Trump administration’s overtures toward universal school choice and federal block grants as a «transformational opportunity.»
«The Trump administration has a chance to shift the power dynamic back to the states, where policymakers are uniquely equipped to understand and address the diverse needs of their students, schools, and communities,» he added in a column in Education Week.
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war with iran,iran,george w bush,donald trump,elections,terrorism
US base in Saudi Arabia under attack
Fox News chief national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin joins ‘America Reports’ to give the latest on the aftermath of the U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran.
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Iran entered a new chapter Saturday after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed, abruptly ending more than three decades of authoritarian rule and setting in motion a leadership transition the regime has long prepared.
A senior Arab diplomat told The Times of Israel that while Khamenei’s demise is a «massive blow» to the Islamic Republic, Tehran anticipated the possibility and took steps to withstand such a scenario.
«Mere survival, at this point, would be considered a victory,» the diplomat said of the regime, according to the outlet, following U.S. and Israeli strikes across the country.
A recent report from the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) outlined three broad trajectories for a post-Khamenei Iran: managed regime continuity, an overt or creeping military takeover, or systemic collapse.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in an Israeli strike on Saturday. (Office of the Supreme Leader of Iran via Getty Images)
CFR cautioned that even a leadership change at the top would not necessarily translate into meaningful political reform in the near term, given the regime’s deeply institutionalized power structure and its record of using force to maintain control.
The report notes that the real balance of power rests within a tight circle of clerical elites and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
It describes a likely «continuity» scenario as producing «Khamenei-ism without Khamenei,» in which a successor from within the regime preserves the ideological framework of the Islamic Republic while relying on established security institutions to preserve stability.
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«The Islamic Republic’s constitution includes a succession process. The Assembly of Experts, a clerical body, is constitutionally charged with selecting the next supreme leader,» Jason Brodsky, policy director of United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), told Fox News Digital.
«In the interim, should there be a leadership vacancy, an interim leadership council is formed comprised of the president, chief justice, and a member of the Guardian Council selected by the Expediency Council,» he added. «The IRGC is a key stakeholder in this process, and will heavily influence its outcome.»
Over the past three decades, the Bayt-e Rahbari, or the Office of the Supreme Leader, expanded into what a February report by UANI described as a «sprawling parallel state» operating alongside Iran’s formal institutions.
Large crowds gather at Enghelab Square in Tehran, Sunday, after Iranian state TV announced that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in an Israeli strike. (Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The analysis characterizes the Office as the regime’s «hidden nerve center,» extending control across the military, security establishment and major economic foundations in ways that make the system’s authority institutional rather than dependent on Khamenei’s physical presence.
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«The supreme leader today is no longer just one man; he is represented through an all-encompassing institution that consolidates power, manages succession, and guarantees continuity,» the non-partisan policy organization said. «The Islamic Republic’s most enduring strength lies in this hidden architecture of control, which will continue to shape the country’s future long after Khamenei himself departs from the scene.»
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war with iran,iran,middle east,world,geopolitics
INTERNACIONAL
Trump confirmó que el líder supremo de Irán murió en los ataques coordinados de Israel y EE.UU.
El presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, informó que el líder supremo de Irán, el ayatolá Ali Jamenei, murió por los ataques lanzados este sábado por Israel y EE.UU. contra territorio iraní.
“Jamenei, una de las personas más malvadas de la historia, está muerto”, escribió Trump en su red social Truth Social y calificó esa muerte como «un acto de justicia» no solo para el pueblo de Irán, sino también para ciudadanos estadounidenses y personas de distintos países que, según afirmó, “fueron asesinadas o mutiladas por Jamenei y su banda de matones sedientos de sangre”.
Leé también: Video: así fue la “Operación Furia Épica” de Estados Unidos contra Irán
“El plan para destruir Israel ya no existe”, había dicho previamente el primer ministro israelí Benjamin Netanyahu sobre el operativo contra Jamenei durante una declaración retransmitida en la noche de este sábado.
En su comunicado, Trump sostuvo que Jamenei no logró evadir los sistemas de inteligencia y rastreo “altamente sofisticados” de Estados Unidos y aseguró que, trabajando estrechamente con Israel, el líder iraní y otros dirigentes “no pudieron hacer absolutamente nada” para evitar el ataque. Trump afirmó además que otros jerarcas militares habrían muerto junto a Jamenei.
Leé también: El ataque a Irán sacude a los mercados y el petróleo podría trepar hasta los US$100 por barril Donald Trump supervisó las operaciones militares estadounidenses en Irán desde Mar-a-Lago. Foto: X/La Casa Blanca)
El presidente estadounidense señaló que este escenario representa “la mayor oportunidad” para que el pueblo iraní “recupere su país” y sostuvo que sectores de la Guardia Revolucionaria Islámica, las fuerzas armadas y los cuerpos de seguridad estarían desistiendo de combatir y buscando inmunidad.
“Ahora pueden tener inmunidad, después solo obtendrán la muerte”, advirtió Trump, al tiempo que expresó su deseo de que las fuerzas de seguridad se unan “pacíficamente” con lo que denominó “patriotas iraníes” para reconstruir el país.
En su mensaje, Trump también aseguró que, en apenas un día, Irán habría sido “muy seriamente destruido e incluso obliterado”, y confirmó que los bombardeos “pesados y de precisión” continuarán de manera ininterrumpida durante la semana o el tiempo que sea necesario para alcanzar el objetivo de lo que definió como “paz en Medio Oriente y en el mundo”. Una imagen satelital muestra humo negro elevándose y daños importantes en el refugio del líder supremo iraní, el ayatolá Ali Jamenei, tras los ataques de Estados Unidos e Israel en Teherán el 28 de febrero de 2026. (Foto: REUTERS)
En Teherán, testigos reportaron aplausos desde ventanas y gritos de alegría tras conocerse la muerte de Jamenei. Desde primeras horas del día, Trump y Netanyahu alentaron a los iraníes a sublevarse. “Es el momento de unir fuerzas, derrocar al régimen y garantizar su futuro”, dijo Netanyahu. Trump fue aún más explícito: “Cuando hayamos terminado, tomen el poder, les tocará a ustedes hacerlo”.
Además, Trump declaró que tiene “una idea muy clara” sobre quién podría ser el próximo líder de Irán, aunque no dio nombres. Entre los posibles aspirantes aparece Reza Pahlavi, hijo del último sah de Irán, quien aseguró que espera una “victoria final” para reconstruir el país.
Por su parte, las autoridades de Teherán evitaron confirmar oficialmente la muerte de Jameneí. No obstante, el jefe del Consejo Supremo de Seguridad Nacional iraní, Ali Larijani, prometió una “lección inolvidable” a Estados Unidos e Israel.
La Guardia Revolucionaria anunció ataques contra el Ministerio de Defensa y bases militares israelíes, mientras que el ejército de Israel reportó múltiples impactos de misiles.
En Irán, la Media Luna Roja informó al menos 201 muertos y 747 heridos por los ataques, que habrían alcanzado 24 de las 31 provincias del país. Las autoridades ordenaron evacuar Teherán y reportaron decenas de víctimas en distintos puntos del territorio.
La escalada no se limitó a Irán e Israel. Misiles iraníes alcanzaron o fueron interceptados en varias capitales del Golfo, como Riad, Abu Dabi, Doha, Dubái, Kuwait y Manama. Arabia Saudita, Qatar y Emiratos Árabes Unidos afirmaron haberse reservado el derecho de responder. Baréin, sede de la Quinta Flota estadounidense, reportó ataques contra edificios residenciales.
Las hostilidades también amenazan con afectar el suministro mundial de petróleo y disparar los precios. Varios países cerraron su espacio aéreo y Estados Unidos desaconsejó a los barcos comerciales acercarse a la zona.
(Con información de AFP y EFE)
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