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Tag: defends

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
Trump Treasury head defends Elon Musk’s DOGE despite critics’ ‘squawking’

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent addresses President Donald Trump’s economic and fiscal goals during his first interview on ‘Kudlow’ since joining the administration.

Since billionaire Elon Musk joined forces with President Donald Trump to head the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), various Democrats and other critics have complained over the Tesla founder’s influence on the federal government.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, however, came to Musk and DOGE’s defense on “Kudlow” Wednesday.

“Elon Musk is the greatest entrepreneur of this generation,” Bessent told FOX Business host Larry Kudlow in his first interview since joining the Trump administration.

“DOGE is not going to fail. They are moving a lot of people’s cheese here in the capital, and when you hear this squawking, then some status quo interest is not happy,” he continued.

WHAT HAS DOGE CUT SO FAR?

Bessent’s defense comes after weekend reports claimed the Treasury Department granted DOGE personnel access to the federal government’s payment system. The Treasury spends roughly $6 trillion per year on payments for federal agencies.

Since then, a Treasury Department official told members of Congress on Tuesday that a tech executive working with DOGE, will have “read-only access” to the government’s payment system, stressing that it is committed to safeguarding the system after the department was granted access.

‘Varney & Co.’ host Stuart Varney discusses Elon Musk’s DOGE helping President Trump shut down USAID as more government slashing could be on the way.

The official wrote a letter in response to lawmakers who were concerned that DOGE’s access to the government’s payment system for the federal government could lead to security risks or missed payments for various programs, including Social Security and Medicare.

“At the Treasury, our payment system is not being touched,” Bessent said Wednesday. “We process 1.3 billion payments a year. There is a study being done — can we have more accountability, more accuracy, more traceability that the money is going where it is. But in terms of payments being stopped, that is happening upstream at the department level.”

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The Treasury’s payments are managed by its Bureau of the Fiscal Service, which disburses nearly 90% of all federal payments and conducts more than 1.2 billion transactions per year, according to its website.

While lawmakers have expressed concerns that Musk possesses too much power within the U.S. government, Bessent emphasized the billionaire’s efforts are part of the Trump administration’s “mandate” from the American people.

“The U.S. doesn’t have a revenue problem. We have a spending problem. I think we can up the revenues, we can up the growth, and most importantly, President Trump got elected because of this affordability crisis… What is he going to do for the affordability crisis? Real wage growth for working Americans is the best way to fix this,” Bessent said.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent addresses President Donald Trump’s economic and fiscal goals during his first interview on ‘Kudlow’ since joining the administration. (Getty Images/Fox News / Fox News)

Bessent argued “gigantic government spending” fueled economic growth under the Biden administration but failed to bring about “real” wage growth.

In contrast, Bessent explained how the newly-elected Trump administration will tackle the affordability crisis by re-privatizing the economy, cutting taxes and regulations, addressing the growing deficit and boosting domestic energy production.

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FOX Business’ Landon Mion and Fox News Digital’s Emma Colton and Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report.

February 5, 2025
NFL’s Roger Goodell defends league’s DEI policies, sees the benefits

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell defended the league’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies during a pre-Super Bowl LIX press conference with media members on Monday.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order to end DEI programs across the federal government in his first few days back at the White House.

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NFL commissioner Roger Goodell speaks during a news conference, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in New Orleans, ahead of the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Goodell was asked about the league’s commitment to diversity at the press conference.

“We got into diversity efforts because we felt like it was the right thing for the National Football League, and we’re going to continue those efforts because we’ve not only convinced ourselves, we’ve proven ourselves, that it does make the NFL better,” Goodell said. “We’re not in this because it’s a trend to get in or a trend to get out of it.

“Our efforts are fundamental in trying to attract the best possible talent in the National Football League both on and off the field as I said previously. We see that. We see how it benefits the National Football League, and so I think we’ll continue those efforts.”

Goodell said the league’s DEI efforts were a reflection of the foundation of the league.

“I think it’s also clearly a reflection on our fan base and our communities and our players. People talk a lot about the Rooney Rule… for us there’s no requirement to hire a particular individual on the basis of race or gender. It’s simply on the basis of looking at a campus of candidates that reflect our communities and to look at the kind of talent that exists there, and then you make the best decision on who is hired,” he added.

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NFL commissioner Roger Goodell speaks during a news conference, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in New Orleans, ahead of the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs. (AP Photo/Matt York)

“So many of us, including the National Football League at our office, are doing that voluntarily at all levels because it has benefited us. And I hear that from companies on a global basis. That’s a very strong hiring practice we’re adopting also.”

With Trump nixing DEI efforts in the government, some companies have rolled back their own initiatives. Walmart, McDonald’s Amazon, Ford and Lowe’s being just some of those companies.

Goodell was asked if there would be any consternation between the league and its corporate sponsors should the companies roll back DEI initiatives.

“We don’t make policies for our sponsors or any of the corporations or networks or partners that we deal with,” he said. “We have a lot of conversations about the importance of it to us. We will obviously take everything into consideration… There’s a lot of corporations who have been tied to so-called changing their diversity policies and haven’t really called directly about that. There’s a lot of conversations that go on about that.”

Goodell said he didn’t have time to reflect about his role in the NFL’s diversity commitment but believed it made the league better.

“I am proud of it in this sense — I believe our diversity efforts have led to making the NFL better. It’s attracted better talent. We think we’re better when we get different perspectives, people with different backgrounds, whether they’re women or men or people of color — we make ourselves stronger, and we make ourselves better when we have that,” he said.

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Super Bowl LIX will be streamed on Tubi. (Tubi)

“It’s something I think will have a tremendous impact on this league for many, many years. We win on the field with the best talent and the best coaching and I think the same is true off the field.”

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

February 3, 2025
Trump defends tariffs, accuses Canada of being ‘very abusive of the United States’

President Donald Trump defended his recent tariffs against Canada, Mexico and China while speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews on Sunday night.

The tariffs, which were authorized in an executive order on Saturday, will go into effect Tuesday. Under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a 25% additional tariff will be levied on imports from Canada and Mexico and a 10% tariff on imports from China.

During his exchange with reporters, Trump accused Canada of being “abusive” towards the U.S.

“Canada has been very abusive of the United States for many years. They don’t allow our banks,” Trump claimed. “And you know that Canada does not allow banks to go in, if you think about it. That’s pretty amazing if we have a U.S. bank. They don’t allow them to go in.”

TRUMP IMPOSES TARIFFS ON IMPORTS FROM CANADA, MEXICO AND CHINA: ‘NATIONAL EMERGENCY’

President Donald Trump said Canada has not been fair to the United States. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

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“Canada has been very tough for oil on energy. They don’t allow our farm products in, essentially. They don’t allow a lot of things in. And we allow everything to come in as being a one way street.

Trump also said that the U.S. subsidizes Canada “by the tune of about $200 billion a year.”

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“And for what? What do we get out of it? We don’t get anything out of it. I love the people of Canada. I disagree with the leadership of Canada and something is going to happen there.”

Andrea Margolis is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Readers can send story tips to [email protected].

February 3, 2025
White House press secretary defends Trump’s purge of government watchdogs

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday defended the legality of President Donald Trump’s abrupt firing of at least 17 inspectors general, telling reporters that the administration is confident that the oustings, ordered across nearly every major federal agency, would survive any potential challenges in court.

Speaking to reporters for the first time from the podium of the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room, Leavitt defended Trump’s decision to fire, without warning, the inspectors general of nearly every Cabinet-level agency – an abrupt and unprecedented purge that shocked many outside observers.

Asked about the terminations Tuesday, Leavitt doubled down on Trump’s argument that the president is well within his power to fire the independent watchdogs, regardless of their Senate-confirmed status.

Trump’s firings of the inspectors general included watchdogs for the Departments of Defense, State, Transportation, Labor, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Energy, Commerce, as well as the EPA, among others.

“It is the belief of this White House and the White House counsel’s office that the president was within his executive authority” to do so, Leavitt said Tuesday.

‘BLATANTLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL’: US JUDGE TEMPORARILY BLOCKS TRUMP’S BAN ON BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP

President Donald Trump and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speak to reporters on Air Force One, Jan. 27, 2025. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump, she added, “is the executive of the executive branch, and therefore he has the power to fire anyone within the executive branch that he wishes to.”

Leavitt then referenced a 2020 Supreme Court decision, Seila Law LLC v. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which ruled that the CFPB’s agency structure violates the separation of powers under the U.S. Constitution.

“I would advise you to look at that case, and that’s the legality that this White House was resting on,” Leavitt said.

Asked by the reporter whether the Trump administration believed its order would survive a lawsuit or court challenge from the former inspectors general, Leavitt responded affirmatively.

“We will win in court,” she said decisively, before moving on.

The remarks come as Trump’s Friday night terminations have sparked deep concern from lawmakers. The terminations were criticized by Republicans and Democrats in Congress, who noted that the independent watchdogs were created to identify and root out government waste, fraud, abuse and misconduct.

Many of the individuals fired were also installed during Trump’s first term.

Lawmakers have noted that Trump ordered the terminations without notifying Congress of his intent to do so at least 30 days in advance, as required for the Senate-confirmed roles.

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Press secretary Karoline Leavitt holds her first news conference at the White House on Jan. 28, 2025. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

A group of House Democrats criticized the action in a letter this week as “unethical,” arbitrary and illegal.

“Firing inspectors general without due cause is antithetical to good government, undermines the proper stewardship of taxpayer dollars, and degrades the federal government’s ability to function effectively and efficiently,” reads the letter, signed by Reps. Jamie Raskin, Maxine Waters, Adam Smith, Bennie Thompson and Gregory Meeks, among others.

Tuesday’s briefing is the first conducted by Leavitt as White House press secretary. At 27, she is the youngest person in White House history to serve in the role.

It is unclear how often Leavitt will hold press briefings.

Her role was announced in November by Trump, who praised the “phenomenal job” she did as his campaign and transition spokesperson.

“Karoline is smart, tough, and has proven to be a highly effective communicator,” Trump said in a statement announcing her role. “I have the utmost confidence she will excel at the podium, and help deliver our message to the American People as we Make America Great Again.”

Trump’s first term saw several White House advisers and communications aides, who struggled at times to communicate the views of a president who frequently opted to share his views directly via public rallies, briefings and social media posts.

Trump’s first term saw several White House advisers and communications aides. (Getty Images | Fox News’s Emma Woodhead)

This prompted high-profile clashes with some of the individuals tasked with officially communicating his views.

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Trump’s most recent White House press secretary, Stephanie Grisham, did not hold a single press briefing during her time in office. Famously, former White House communications aide Anthony Scaramucci served in his post for just 11 days.

Breanne Deppisch is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital covering the 2024 election and other national news.

January 28, 2025
O’Leary defends his TikTok offer now competing against MrBeast as ‘only’ viable option

O’Leary Ventures Chairman Kevin O’Leary unpacks President Donald Trump’s latest billion dollar investments and the future of TikTok ownership as multiple deals hit the negotiating table.

As the internet’s top creator MrBeast allegedly readies to enter the TikTok sale arena, “Mr. Wonderful” is defending his deal as the best and most viable option for the Chinese-owned social platform.

“The most, not troubling, but difficult part of this is in the fifth and sixth page of that order two Fridays ago from the Supreme Court, it specifically outlines: not a single line of code can be used from the existing Chinese algorithm. That’s 5 billion codes nobody can use,” Kevin O’Leary explained on “Varney & Co.,” Thursday.

“So now it comes back to which group — I don’t care how many people announced this — has the tech to support this. And as far as I know, it’s only the McCourt-O’Leary bid. We have the tech.”

O’Leary and billionaire entrepreneur Frank McCourt have put out a $20 billion cash offer to TikTok to purchase the app after the Supreme Court upheld Congress’ federal law requiring the company to divest to a U.S. buyer or face a user ban.

KEVIN O’LEARY WARNS TIKTOK’S FATE COULD BE DETERMINED BY ‘SECRET GOLDEN SHARE’ GRANTING BEIJING ‘VETO’ POWER

The Associated Press reported that, on Tuesday, a law firm advising Recruiter.com Ventures founder and CEO Jesse Tinsley’s TikTok offer named Jimmy Donaldson – better known as MrBeast – as an interested party in the deal.

Kevin O’Leary says his TikTok offer is the “only” viable option as mega-popular internet creator MrBeast reportedly enters the race, too. (FOXBusiness)

Adding to speculation, Donaldson had posted on X on Jan. 13 that he’d “buy TikTok so it doesn’t get banned,” adding the next day that “I’ve had so many billionaires reach out to me since I tweeted this, let’s see if we can pull this off.”

‘Shark Tank’ investor Kevin O’Leary talks TikTok’s future, the Chinese government’s role with a ‘secret golden share’ and the role Trump could play in keeping the platform available in the U.S.

But a representative for Donaldson confirmed to the Associated Press Wednesday that MrBeast hasn’t officially joined any bids, saying: “Several buyers are holding ongoing discussions with Jimmy… He has no exclusive agreements with any of them.”

“The only two that can decide what’s going to happen here are [President Donald] Trump and Xi [Jinping]. And so Xi has not yet indicated if he wants to sell it, that’s the next step,” O’Leary expanded. “If he does, everybody’s happy with whatever Trump comes back with as long as it complies with the laws of Congress and the order from the Supreme Court.”

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Billionaire entrepreneur Frank McCourt details what will happen when his offer with Kevin O’Leary to buy TikTok could be accepted and they begin negotiations with ByteDance.

“We’ve been to the Hill this week talking to senators and congressmen about what we’ve got,” Mr. Wonderful added. “We can move it over without a single line of Chinese code and allow Americans to sequester their own data so there’s no leakage. And I’m hoping that’s, [at] the end of the day, why this deal comes to us.”

Though TikTok’s future operation and ownership remains uncertain, President Trump signed an executive order on his first day in the Oval Office that extends its divest-or-ban deadline by 75 days, giving the Chinese social media app more time to decide on a buyer.

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January 23, 2025