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Trump applauds ‘guts’ of NASCAR drivers ahead of Daytona 500, sends them special message

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NASCAR drivers will hit speeds of nearly 200 mph when the green flag waves for the Daytona 500 on Sunday as the season begins at Daytona International Speedway.

President Donald Trump was on hand for the start of the “Great American Race.” He led the drivers on a lap before the race started. It’s the second time he’s attended the event.

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President Donald Trump shakes hands with NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Richard Petty at the NASCAR Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, in Daytona Beach, Florida. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Ahead of the call for drivers to start their engines, Trump talked to FOX Sports’ Jamie Little and applauded the racers for competing in the event.

“They have a lot of courage doing this. I see it and I’ve been here,” the president said. “They have a lot of guts, as they would say.”

Trump, who was joined on the track by his granddaughter, highlighted the progress of the United States since he started his second term as president.

“I think it’s fantastic. I think it’s great for the country,” he said. “The country is doing well again. We have spirit all over the world. There’s spirit again, we brought it back and it’s been less than four weeks. You’ll see what we do in a little period of time. It’s gonna only get better. But this is very exciting.”

Trump had a message for the drivers on their radios before the green flag waved.

President Donald Trump, with granddaughter Carolina, speaks during an interview at the NASCAR Daytona 500, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, in Florida. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

NASCAR FANS CHEER AS TRUMP ARRIVES FOR DAYTONA 500 IN AIR FORCE ONE

“This is your favorite. I’m a big fan. I’m a really big fan of you people. (How) you do this, I don’t know. But I just want you to be safe. You’re talented people and great people and great Americans. Have a good day. Have a lot of fun and I’ll see you later.”

Trump touted the American spirit in a statement before he arrived in Daytona Beach, Florida.

“This iconic race showcases the fastest, most fearless drivers in motorsports, who represent our Nation’s love of tradition, competition, and automotive innovation,” the statement read. “The Daytona 500 brings together people from all walks of life—from lifelong racing fans to first-time spectators—they all join in celebrating a shared passion for speed, adrenaline, and the thrill of the race.

“From the roar of the engines on the track to the echo of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ soaring through the stands, the Daytona 500 is a timeless tribute to the speed, strength, and unyielding spirit that make America great. That spirit is what will fuel America’s Golden Age, and if we harness it, the future is truly ours.”

President Donald Trump waves as he arrives at Daytona Beach International Airport, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, en route to NASCAR’s Daytona 500. (Pool via AP)

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The president was joined at the track by Eric Trump, Luke Trump, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, John Paul Duffy, Patrick Duffy, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Kathryn Burgum, Sens. Todd Young and Ashley Moody, and Reps. Jason Smith, Byron Donalds and Mike Haridopolos.

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February 16, 2025
White House economist gives plan to control avian flu, lower egg prices

Vice president of Eggs Unlimited Brian Moscogiuri explains why egg prices will continue to soar as the bird flu outbreak slows production.

The White House is working toward a plan to control the avian flu, which will help lower egg prices that have skyrocketed due to inflation and how the Biden administration “killed all the chickens” to contain the spread of the disease, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said Sunday.

Hassett appeared on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” where he said that he and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins are “working with all the best people in government, including academics around the country and around the world” to have a plan ready for President Donald Trump next week regarding the disease.

“The Biden plan was to just, you know, kill chickens, and they spent billions of dollars just randomly killing chickens within a perimeter where they found a sick chicken,” he said.

Hassett said the plan being worked on in the Trump administration is to “have better ways with biosecurity and medication and so on, to make sure that the perimeter doesn’t have to kill the chickens.”

EGG FARMERS ARE FACING THE ‘WORST BIRD FLU OUTBREAK’ IN ‘HISTORY,’ INDUSTRY LEADERS FEAR

The White House is working toward a plan to control the avian flu, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said. (Reuters/Dado Ruvic, File / Reuters Photos)

“So having a smart perimeter is what we’re working on, and we’re finalizing the ideas about how to do that with the best scientists in government,” Hassett said. “And that’s the kind of thing that should have happened a year ago, and if it had, then egg prices would be, you know, a lot better than they are now.”

Hassett also addressed the “very large” inflation problem, which he attributed to former President Joe Biden.

White House Council of Economic Advisers chairman Kevin Hassett speaks to the media during a press briefing at the White House on Feb. 22, 2018, in Washington, D.C. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images / Getty Images)

“We saw the consumer price index come out, and we found out that the stagflation that was created by the policies of President Biden was way worse than we thought,” Hassett said. “Over the last three months, across all goods, including eggs, the average inflation rate was 4.6%, way above target, and an acceleration at the end of the Biden term.”

FIXING AMERICA’S CHICKEN AND EGG CRISIS

Average egg prices have risen 15% since January and are up 53% year-over-year, according to the latest consumer price index, released Wednesday. The average price of a dozen Large Grade A eggs is nearing $5.00, as tracked by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins discusses how she is preparing to reform the agency and how she and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will tackle the egg crisis on ‘Kudlow.’

The White House has previously said the Biden administration contributed to the egg supply shortage by directing the killing of over 100 million chickens.

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Sources tell FOX Business the culling of infected flocks is current U.S. protocol, but more research and development is needed to control and even prevent outbreaks, such as vaccinating birds.

Fox Business’ Suzanne O’Halloran contributed to this report.

February 16, 2025
ESPN star Stephen A Smith makes stance on trans inclusion in women’s sports clear

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ESPN star Stephen A. Smith made his stance on trans inclusion in girls and women’s sports clear during an interview on radio row in New Orleans ahead of Super Bowl LIX.

Smith appeared in an interview for Bloomberg last week to talk about his political aspirations. The clip was published on Saturday. He said he considered himself to be a “centrist” when it came to political leanings, but when it came to trans athletes playing in women’s sports, that’s where he took a different line.

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Sadie Schreiner holds a transgender flag after finishing third in the finals of the 200m race at the NCAA DIII outdoor track and field championships on May 25, 2024. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

“So that’s how I look at it. LGBTQ rights and all that stuff, I’m in full support of that, but when transgender athletes, men are transitioning to women and they’re competing in female sports, that’s a different animal to me,” he said.

“That’s not just about LGBTQ rights. That’s about prying on the rights of females out there everywhere who were born female, and they’re at a decided disadvantage.”

Smith’s stance came as President Donald Trump signed an executive order to bar transgender athletes from competing against women and girls.

CA LAWMAKERS INTRODUCE BILL PROTECTING GIRLS FROM TRANS ATHLETES AFTER STATE REFUSES TO FOLLOW TRUMP’S ORDER

Stephen A. Smith on the ESPN NBA Countdown live set at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, on Oct. 23, 2024. (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

The NCAA followed Trump’s executive order and changed its policy.

Linda McMahon, Trump’s pick for education secretary, also said she didn’t believe trans athletes should compete against women and girls in sports.

“I do not believe that biological boys should be able to compete against girls in sports, and I think now that certainly not only have the people spoken, because that was something that Trump ran very heavily on, but I believe the court has spoken,” McMahon said.

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President Donald Trump signs an executive order barring transgender female athletes from competing in women’s or girls’ sporting events, in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

A national exit poll conducted by the Concerned Women for America (CWA) legislative action committee found that 70% of moderate voters saw the issue of “Donald Trump’s opposition to transgender boys and men playing girls and women’s sports and of transgender boys and men using girls and women’s bathrooms,” as important to them. And 6% said it was the most important issue of all, while 44% said it was “very important.”

Fox News’ Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.

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February 16, 2025
February 17, 2025 Special Days: Which Day Is Today? Know Holidays, Festivals, Events, Birthdays, Birth and Death Anniversaries Falling on Today’s Calendar Date
February 17, 2025, Special Days: February 17, 2025, is marked by several special observances worldwide. In the United States, it is Presidents’ Day, honouring past and present leaders, while Canada celebrates Family Day, Islander Day, Louis Riel Day, and Nova Scotia Heritage Day in different provinces. Globally, it is Kosovo Independence Day and Libya’s Revolution Day, commemorating significant national events. World Human Spirit Day encourages mindfulness and inner peace, while National Random Acts of Kindness Day promotes goodwill. Other fun observances include National Cabbage Day and National Café au Lait Day, celebrating simple pleasures. Additionally, Perfume Day as the Anti-Valentine Week Day 3 add a unique touch to the day. There are major February 17 famous birthdays. February 2025 Holidays and Festivals Calendar: Basant Panchami, Valentine’s Day, Maha Shivratri and More – Get a Full List of Major Events in the Second Month of the Year.

List of Festivals & Events Falling on February 17, 2025 (Monday)
1. Anti-Valentine Week Day 3 – Perfume Day
2. Presidents’ Day (Third Monday in February – United States)
3. Family Day (Third Monday in February – Canada)
4. World Human Spirit Day
5. Daisy Gatson Bates Day
6. February 17th Revolution
7. Islander Day in Canada
8. Kosovo Independence Day
9. Libyan Revolution Day
10. Louis Riel Day in Canada
11. National Cabbage Day
12. National Cafe au Lait Day
13. National Random Acts of Kindness Day
14. Nova Scotia Heritage Day
Famous February 17 Birthdays and Birth Anniversaries
1. Michael Jordan
2. Ed Sheeran
3. Paris Hilton
4. Denise Richards
5. Joseph Gordon-Levitt
6. David Goggins
7. Jerry O’Connell
8. Michael Bay
9. Bonnie Wright
10. Marc Márquez
11. Sivakarthikeyan
12. Chandrashekar Rao
13. Arunoday Singh
14. Praful Patel
15. Jibanananda Das (1899-1954)
February 16, 2025, Special Days.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 17, 2025 12:01 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
February 16, 2025
Rubio: It’s up to Trump to determine if Putin is ‘serious about negotiations’

President Donald Trump’s prowess as a negotiator will help determine if Russian President Vladimir Putin is serious about negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday.

Rubio appeared on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” where host Margaret Brennan asked if he could trust that potential negotiations with Russia would be forthright considering how Putin “likes to use diplomacy as a cover to distract while he continues to wage war.”

“I don’t think in geopolitics anyone should trust anyone,” Rubio responded. “I think these things have to be verified through actions. I said yesterday that peace is not a noun, it’s a verb. It’s an action. You have to take concrete steps towards it.”

Rubio added that there is “no better negotiator in American politics” than Trump, saying that the president “will know very quickly whether this is a real thing or whether this is an effort to buy time.”

HOW SAUDI ARABIA’S CROWN PRINCE BECAME A CENTRAL PLAYER IN US-BROKERED PEACE TALKS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday said that he believes Trump is America’s best political negotiator. (MARK SCHIEFELBEIN/Pool AP/AFP via Getty Images, File)

“But I don’t want to prejudge that,” Rubio said. “I don’t want to foreclose the opportunity to end the conflict that’s already cost the lives of hundreds of thousands and continues every single day to be increasingly a war of attrition on both sides.”

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago. The fighting has produced heavy casualties on both sides, becoming Europe’s largest military conflict since World War II.

Trump had repeatedly said while on the campaign trail that if he was president in 2022, the war would not have broken out — vowing to end it if re-elected.

RUSSIA CLAIMS TRUMP, PUTIN TALK BROUGHT WORLD FROM ‘BRINK OF APOCALYPSE,’ EU WARNS OF ‘DIRTY TRICKS’

Trump spoke to Putin in a phone call on Wednesday, telling reporters that he and Putin would likely meet soon to negotiate a peace deal over Ukraine. Trump later assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy he also would have a seat at the table.

While some officials have indicated that European nations wouldn’t be involved in talks, Rubio on Sunday said that should the leaders reach the point of “real negotiations,” both Ukraine and Europe would be involved.

“Ultimately, it will reach a point when you are – if it’s real negotiations, and we’re not there yet – but if that were to happen, Ukraine will have to be involved, because they’re the one that were invaded, and the Europeans will have to be involved because they have sanctions on Putin and Russia as well, and they’ve contributed to this effort.”

Volodymyr Zelenskyy President of Ukraine talks with media during the European Council Meeting on Dec. 19, 2024, in Brussels, Belgium. (Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images)

Rubio emphasized that the phone call between Trump and Putin was only a small step in the process towards opening a negotiation to end the war, and that “we have a long way to go.”

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“We’re just not there yet,” he said. “We really aren’t, but hopefully we will be, because we’d all like to see this war end.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

February 16, 2025
Putin’s a ‘little bit scared’ of Trump as nations begin peace talks, Zelenskyy says

Russian President Vladimir Putin is a “little bit scared” of President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview that aired Sunday.

Zelenskyy joined NBC’s “Meet the Press,” recounting that when he spoke to Trump by phone about a potential peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, he told the president that he believes Putin fears the American leader.

“I said that [Putin] is a liar,” Zelenskyy recounted of his phone call to Trump. “And he said, ‘I think my feeling is that he’s ready for these negotiations.’ And I said to him, ‘No, he’s a liar. He doesn’t want any peace.’

“But I think he’s really a little bit scared about the President Trump. And I think the president has this chance, and he’s strong. And I think that really he can push Putin to peace negotiations. Yes, I think so. I think he can, but don’t trust him. Don’t trust Putin. Don’t trust just words about ceasefire,” Zelenskyy told NBC’s Kristen Welker on “Meet the Press.”

Zelenskyy’s interview follows Trump announcing last Wednesday that Putin had agreed to “immediately” begin peace negotiations to end the war. Trump tapped Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff to lead negotiations with Russia and Ukraine.

TRUMP SAYS RUSSIA AGREES TO ‘IMMEDIATELY’ BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS TO END WAR IN UKRAINE

Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Sputnik/Alexei Danichev/Pool via Reuters/Leah Millis/Alina Smutko)

PUTIN VIEWED AS ‘GREAT COMPETITOR’ BUT STILL A US ‘ADVERSARY’ AS UKRAINE NEGOTIATIONS LOOM, LEAVITT SAYS

Zelenskyy said during his interview that he trusts Trump’s leadership amid negotiations to end the war that has raged between Russia and Ukraine since 2022, but that he won’t accept a deal that did not include talks with Ukraine.

“I believe and trust only in real steps. And I trust President Trump because he’s the president of the United States, because your people, your people voted for him, and I respect their choice, and I will work with President Trump with trust, which I have to the United States,” Zelenskyy told Welker when asked if he feels Trump values Ukraine at the same level as Russia.

FREED AMERICAN HOSTAGE MARC FOGEL LANDS IN US AFTER YEARS IN RUSSIAN CAPTIVITY

Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a meeting with members of the Security Council via videoconference at the Kremlin in Moscow, May 13, 2024. (Aleksey Babushkin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo)

“But of course, I want to have [a] real meeting, productive, without just words, with concrete steps, and to hear us, to hear President Trump, to make a common plan, and to share it with allies, then with Russians, and stop this war. I think we need it urgently. We have to do it without basic things, where there are concrete steps.”

Zelenskyy added in his interview that he will not accept any negotiation hashed out by just the U.S. and Russia.

‘NO REASON’ FOR NEW NUKES: TRUMP FLOATS DISARMAMENT TALKS WITH CHINA, RUSSIA

“I will never accept any decisions between the United States and Russia about Ukraine. Never.… The war in Ukraine is against us, and it is our human losses. And we are thankful for all the support, unity between USA – in USA around Ukraine support, bipartisan unity, bipartisan support, we’re thankful for all of this. But there is no… leader in the world who can really make a deal with Putin without us about us,” he said.

Former President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet at Trump Tower in New York City, Sept. 27, 2024. (Reuters/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo)

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Witkoff joined Fox News earlier on Sunday and reported that he and Waltz are heading to Saudi Arabia on Sunday evening to begin negotiations on ending the war between Russia and Ukraine.

February 16, 2025
Rubio defends Vance’s Munich speech as CBS host suggests ‘free speech’ caused the Holocaust

Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended Vice President JD Vance’s speech in Germany slamming Europe’s penchant for censorship on Sunday.

Rubio clashed with CBS host Margaret Brennan on “Face the Nation” after she suggested that free speech had been “weaponized” to bring about the Holocaust in Nazi Germany.

Brennan highlighted Vance’s speech to the Munich Security Conference in Germany last week, which criticized European allies for adopting a “soviet”-style approach to censorship.

“What did all of this accomplish, other than irritating our allies?” Brennan asked.

HEGSETH SAYS HE AND VANCE ARE ‘ON THE SAME PAGE’ DESPITE VP’S REMARK ON US TROOPS IN UKRAINE

Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected claims from a CBS host that “free speech” caused the holocaust. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

“Why would our allies or anybody be irritated by free speech and by someone giving their opinion? We are, after all, democracies,” Rubio said. “The Munich Security Conference is largely a conference of democracies in which one of the things that we cherish and value is the ability to speak freely and provide your opinions. And so, I think if anyone’s angry about his words, they don’t have to agree with him, but to be angry about it, I think actually makes his point.”

VANCE WARNS THE US WILL USE SANCTIONS, MILITARY ACTION IF PUTIN DOESN’T AGREE TO UKRAINE PEACE DEAL: REPORT

“Well, he was standing in a country where free speech was weaponized to conduct a genocide,” Brennan replied. “He met with the head of a political party that has far-right views and some historic ties to extreme groups. The context of that was changing the tone of it. And you know that.”

CBS Host Margaret Brennan claimed that Nazis had “weaponized” free speech “to conduct a genocide” in Germany. (Screenshot/CBS)

“Well, I have to disagree with you. No- I have- I have to disagree with you,” Rubio said as the pair talked over one another. “Free speech was not used to conduct a genocide. The genocide was conducted by an authoritarian Nazi regime that happened to also be genocidal because they hated Jews and they hated minorities and they had a list of people they hated, but primarily the Jews.”

He added, “There was no free speech in Nazi Germany. There was none. There was also no opposition in Nazi Germany. They were the sole and only party that governed that country. So that’s not an accurate reflection of history.”

Vice President JD Vance rebuked European allies for their penchant for censorship last week. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

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Rubio went on to reiterate Vance’s point that European leaders should be able to continue working with the U.S. and other like-minded nations despite facing criticism, at which point Brennan ended the segment.

Anders Hagstrom is a reporter with Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news events. Send tips to [email protected], or on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders.

February 16, 2025
NASCAR fans cheer as Trump arrives for Daytona 500 in Air Force One

President Donald Trump received cheers from the crowd at Daytona International Speedway as Air Force One landed at the airport ahead of his arrival for the Daytona 500 on Sunday.

The president’s plane flew over the speedway before it landed at Daytona International Airport. Cheers from the crowd were heard on the FOX broadcast as the pre-race hosts talked to Chase Elliott. NASCAR fans and drivers watched as the plane flew over the track.

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President Donald Trump departs the White House on Feb. 14, 2025. Trump is attending the Daytona 500 this weekend. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Trump released a statement ahead of landing at the airport. He will be the first sitting president to attend two Daytona 500 races at Daytona International Speedway. He attended the race the first time in February 2020.

“This iconic race showcases the fastest, most fearless drivers in motorsports, who represent our Nation’s love of tradition, competition, and automotive innovation,” the statement read. “The Daytona 500 brings together people from all walks of life—from lifelong racing fans to first-time spectators—they all join in celebrating a shared passion for speed, adrenaline, and the thrill of the race.

“From the roar of the engines on the track to the echo of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ soaring through the stands, the Daytona 500 is a timeless tribute to the speed, strength, and unyielding spirit that make America great. That spirit is what will fuel America’s Golden Age, and if we harness it, the future is truly ours.”

Air Force One with President Donald Trump on board flies over the scoring tower at the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, in Florida. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

WHO ARE THE 10 GREATEST DAYTONA 500 DRIVERS OF ALL TIME?

Trump also thanked U.S. military members for their service.

“Since the very beginning, NASCAR has carried forth a proud tradition of honoring our heroic Service members for their unwavering courage,” the statement added. “While fans from around the world gather today at Daytona International Speedway, we extend our unending gratitude to the selfless men and women in uniform who risk their lives to keep us safe. When the engines start or the checkered flag waves, and all 500 thrilling miles in between, our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and Guardians stand ready to defend cherished traditions like this—and for that, we are truly thankful.

“Melania and I send our best wishes for a safe and successful race. May God bless our Armed Forces, and may He continue to bless the United States of America.”

President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, en route to NASCAR’s Daytona 500. (Pool Photo via AP)

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Trump was at Super Bowl LIX for the Philadelphia Eagles’ win over the Kansas City Chiefs. He was the first sitting president to attend the Super Bowl.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

February 16, 2025
Spurs teammates Victor Wembanyama, Chris Paul disqualified from NBA All-Star Game skills challenge

San Antonio Spurs stars Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul were disqualified from Saturday night’s All-Star Game festivities after they found a loophole in the skills competition.

The pair were in the field for the competition in which players go through a series of challenges, including bounce passing, chest passing, shots from three different locations on the floor and dribbling.

As they came to the shooting part, Wembanyama and Paul just threw the ball toward the rim in a time-saving tactic.

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San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama and guard Chris Paul compete during the skills challenge at the All-Star festivities Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

It didn’t fly.

They were disqualified because the shot attempts were determined to be invalid. Wembanyama, the 7-foot-3 Frenchman who is in his second year in the NBA, said he came up with the idea.

“I don’t regret it. I think it was a good idea,” he said.

Wembanyama and Paul completed the course in 47.9 seconds, the best among the competitors.

MAC MCCLUNG, WHO HAS PLAYED IN 1 NBA GAME THIS SEASON, WINS 3RD STRAIGHT DUNK CONTEST

San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul competes during All-Star Saturday night festivities, Feb. 15, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green said afterward that Wembanyama was asking others if his plan made sense. Green competed with teammate Moses Moody.

“It definitely sucked to see them throwing the ball like that,” Green said. “But what I will say is, Wemby walked around the court asking everybody, ‘Make one or three attempts?’ And Wemby said, ‘Oh, so I can get all three of them up there?’ So, he asked. Now, he may not have asked the right people. But I will say, in Wemby’s defense, he did ask a lot of people.”

Cleveland Cavaliers stars Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley won the event.

Mobley said he had an idea similar to that of Wembanyama’s time-saving plan. But it was the Spurs teammates who became the talk of the competition.

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama competes during the All-Star skills challenge, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

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“We tried something that we thought could win,” Paul said. “To see if we had the best time, so… it was fun.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

February 16, 2025
Border Patrol agents to stop wearing body cameras amid new ‘security threats’

Agents with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will no longer wear body cameras during field operations after a social media post publicized how to identify individual agents.

“All U.S. Border Patrol Agents will cease the use of body-worn cameras (BWC) in all operational environments,” CBP said in a statement to NewsNation, which originally reported the news.

The directive comes after a post on Reddit claimed that the mobile application BLE Radar, which uses Bluetooth to scan for low-energy devices such as phones, smartwatches and speakers, can also track CBP body cameras from a distance of 100 yards and can also trigger improvised explosive devices.

FRUSTRATED CHICAGOANS BACK ICE DEPORTATIONS, APPLAUD DOJ LAWSUIT TARGETING SANCTUARY POLICIES

A Border Patrol agent stands on a cliff looking for migrants that crossed the border wall between the U.S. and Mexico near the city of Sasabe, Arizona. (Salwan Georges/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

CBP officials sent out a directive following the post informing agents of a “potential security risk” while immediately pulling body cameras from use in the field.

“Pending completion of investigation and risk mitigation, all Agents will stand down the use of their BWCs [body worn cameras] until further notice. Additional guidance and information will be disseminated as it is received,” the directive said.

Sources told NewsNation that the cameras used by CBP agents are Avon body cams, which the social media post claims are devices BLE Radar, which was developed by F-Droid, can detect.

Border Patrol agents rescue a migrant child abandoned by smugglers. (U.S. Border Patrol)

DAILY AVERAGE OF KNOWN GOTAWAYS AT SOUTHERN BORDER PLUMMETS, DOWN 93% FROM BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HIGHS

The directive comes as both CBP and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have ramped up enforcement efforts in the weeks since President Donald Trump took office, an effort that was a cornerstone of the president’s campaign to return to the White House.

Since the beginning of February, the daily average of gotaways, or illegal immigrants who successfully enter the U.S. without being apprehended, at the southern border has fallen to just 132 per day, a 93% drop from highs seen under former President Joe Biden, a senior Department of Homeland Security source told Fox News.

President Donald J Trump signs an executive order in the Oval Office at the White House on Jan 31, 2025. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Data obtained by Fox News showed that during FY 2023, 670,674 known gotaways were recorded by the agency, or more than 1,800 per day.

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CBP did not immediately respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment.

Fox News’ Bill Melugin and Greg Wehner contributed to this report.

Michael Lee is a writer for Fox News. Prior to joining Fox News, Michael worked for the Washington Examiner, Bongino.com, and Unbiased America. He has covered politics for more than eight years.

February 16, 2025