Valentine’s Day is here. Some are busy planning romantic candlelit dinners, some are making social media posts about their “one,” but there are many who have dedicated the day to scrolling through their feeds, snacks in hand, enjoying the true essence of Valentine’s Day like every other day –– memes. Whether you’re single, happily taken, or stuck in an awkward situationship, there’s a meme for you.
From jokes about the struggles of dating to singles embracing a night of pizza and Netflix, the memes this year are relatable as ever. Here are some of the best ones making the rounds:
One user posted, “People call it Valentine’s day, I call it Friday. We ain’t the same.”
People call it Valentines day,I call it Friday. We ain’t the same
Valentine’s Day has roots that stretch back to ancient Rome. What began as Lupercalia, a mid-February festival celebrating fertility and the arrival of spring, gradually evolved into something quite different. As Christianity spread, the day became linked to Saint Valentine, a martyr known for performing secret marriages when such unions were forbidden.
By the Middle Ages, Valentine’s Day had taken on a more romantic spirit, inspired by tales of courtly love and immortalised through poetry. Over time, it grew into a global celebration of love, affection, and appreciation.
Today, Valentine’s Day is a reminder that love, in all its forms, is worth celebrating. And whether you’re sharing it with a partner, friends, or just your favourite meme page, one thing’s for sure: the Internet’s love for Valentine’s Day humour is stronger than ever.
Serena Wililams offered a simple explanation to address criticism she received after making an appearance during Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show, calling it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
The tennis legend, who retired from the sport in 2022, posted a video on Instagram showing the behind-scenes leading up to her cameo.
Serena Williams dances during halftime of the Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
In the post, she shared a brief explanation why she accepted Lamar’s invitation.
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“When @kendricklamar and team called and was like ‘we’ve been trying to do something forever, what about this? We loved your crip walk at the Olympics after you won the gold medal.’ I’m like Super Bowl? Are you serious?
“When in the world would I ever be able to dance at a superbowl? (Never) let’s do it!”
Williams’ added that she knew her “winning dance” at the 2012 Olympic Games in London “would pay off one day.”
Serena Williams dances during halftime of the Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans.(AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
SERENA WILLIAMS’ HUSBAND FIRES BACK AT CRITICS OVER HER SUPER BOWL LIX HALFTIME SHOW CRIP WALK
“End of story,” she added.
Williams’ explanation comes after she faced criticism for her choice of dance and for performing alongside the rival of rapper Drake, with whom Williams was previously involved in a relationship.
ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith was among those who criticized Williams, saying he would divorce his wife if she was “trolling her ex.”
Serena Williams dances on stage during halftime of the Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
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But Williams’ husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, defended Williams
“Some of y’all have no idea how criticized Serena was for this same dance at Wimbledon 13 years ago and it shows…. This is bigger than the music,” he said in a post on X.
Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.
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The third time was the charm for Monty the Giant Schanuzer at the 149th edition of the Westminster Dog Show at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.
This year the competition was stiff with seven competitors representing their breeds and Monty the Giant Schnauzer took away the win in the Working Group for the third consecutive year.
This was, however, was Monty’s first time being named Best in Show and the first time the Working Group had won the Westminster Dog Show since 2004.
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Katie Bernardin and Monty, a Giant Schnauzer, compete in the best in show competition during the 149th Westminster Kennel Club Dog show, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
After being sequestered for the first two days of the competition, judge Paula Nykiel had the challenge of awarding Best in Show to just one of seven incredible dogs before settling on Monty.
This was her ninth year judging the show, and she says the job is “wonderful” but “difficult.”
FOX SPORTS’ JOHN STRONG, JENNY TAFT PREVIEW WESTMINSTER DOG SHOW
Katie Bernardin and Monty, a Giant Schnauzer, compete in the working group competition during the 149th Westminster Kennel Club Dog show, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Bourbon the Whippet, a close runner-up, came out of retirement at nine years old to represent the Hound Group winning Reserve Best in Show as well as taking home the win in the hound group.
Bourbon has been Reserve Best in Show twice at Westminster before.
SUPER BOWL LIX SHATTERS VIEWERSHIP RECORDS AS MILLIONS WATCHED EAGLES WIN
Katie Bernardin, center, reacts after winning best in show with Monty, a Giant Schnauzer, during the 149th Westminster Kennel Club Dog show, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Below are the rest of the group winners all via the American Kennel Club.
Neal the Bichon Frisé won the Non-Sporting Group, Mercedes the German shepherd won the Herding Group, Comet the Shih Tzu won the Toy Group, Freddie the English Springer Spaniel won the Sporting Group and Comet the Shih Tzu won the Toy Group.
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Archer, a Skye Terrier, competes in the terrier competition during the 149th Westminster Kennel Club Dog show, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
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Ryan Canfield is a digital production assistant for Fox News Digital.
As reports swirl that the New York Jets will move on from Aaron Rodgers this offseason, his media appearances may factor into the decision.
Rodgers joined the Jets in the offseason ahead of the 2023 season after spending 18 years with the Green Bay Packers.
Before his departure, Rodgers found himself in some controversies, most notably when he said he was “immunized” against the COVID-19 virus. He also spoke fondly of the hallucinogen ayahuasca.
Then, shortly after what became his final game with the Packers, he went on a “darkness retreat.”
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New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers walks on the field during the second half of a game against the Buffalo Bills in East Rutherford, N.J., Oct. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Throughout this time, Rodgers had become a mainstay on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show,” on which he had been known to push the envelope.
Rodgers has continued to make controversial headlines during his appearances on the show, including calling out Dr. Anthony Fauci for his vaccine measures, linking Jimmy Kimmel to Jeffrey Epstein and mocking “celebrities bought by China” ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
A new report from The Athletic claims new Jets brass told Rodgers he would not be allowed to appear on the show if he plays for the Jets in 2025.
“I was told that when they had conversations with Aaron Rodgers about what the future would look like, ‘If you’re going to be part of this team, you’re going to attend all of training camp, you’re not going to do Pat McAfee interviews anymore,’” Dianna Russini said on her “Scoop City” podcast. “They had a conversation with him of, ‘If you were to stay here, here is how we would want it to be.’”
Pat McAfee sits on the set of ESPN’s “College GameDay” before a game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa., Nov. 2, 2024.(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Fox News Digital reached out to Rodgers’ representative, the Jets and ESPN.
CHIEFS PLAYER SPEAKS OUT AFTER PATRICK MAHOMES SKIPPED HIM WHILE GREETING TEAMMATES DURING SUPER BOWL LOSS
The Jets hired Aaron Glenn as their head coach last month and brought in Darren Mougey as their general manager. Apparently, Glenn told Rodgers the quarterback would have to abide by Glenn’s terms, which included full offseason involvement.
Rodgers had an unexcused absence from mandatory minicamp, which turned out to be a scheduled trip in Egypt. Robert Saleh, the head coach at the time, said, “If it’s important to Aaron, it’s important to us.”
Perhaps Rodgers’ time with the Jets was done anyway. In a season where they had, at minimum, playoff expectations, they went 5-12 with Rodgers under center. And although there were times he looked like he turned back the clock, for the most part he did look like a quarterback on the wrong side of 40 coming off a serious Achilles injury.
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) waits for a snap during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams in East Rutherford, N.J., Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
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Perhaps that injury robbed Rodgers and the Jets of a run, but with the team losing two more games in 2024 than it had in 2023 when Zach Wilson took over for Rodgers — even after they added Davante Adams — it may be time to close the door.
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President Donald Trump’s team of zealous cost-cutters under Elon Musk will soon set their sights on the U.S.’s largest discretionary budget.
With an annual budget of $850 billion, the Pentagon has long been plagued by accusations of waste and inefficiency in its defense programs and recently failed its seventh straight audit.
“We’re going to find billions, hundreds of millions of dollars of fraud and abuse,” Trump predicted in an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier on Sunday.
Congress appropriates the Department of Defense (DOD) budget each year in great detail, and urging lawmakers to trim costs may be where Republicans publicly break with Musk and his burn-it-all-down style.
Here is a look at where the Department of Government Efficiency team could set their sights.
MUSK’S NEXT TARGET? TRUMP SAYS DOGE WILL LOOK AT DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, PENTAGON FUNDING
President Donald Trump’s team of cost-cutting gurus under Elon Musk, pictured here, will soon set their sights on the U.S.’s largest discretionary budget.(Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Personnel and contracting
The inclination of Musk and his team seems to be to cull federal employees, but cost-cutting advocates argue that outsourcing work to contractors could have the opposite effect.
Typically, around half the Pentagon’s budget goes to contractors, corporations that have a profit motive unlike the government itself. The government relies on contractors for software support, training, weapons and to act as paramilitary forces in foreign missions.
“A major driver of Pentagon waste is actually service contracting for what are really core government functions and administrative capacities, like simple things [such] as IT support,” said Julia Gledhill, a researcher at the Stimson Center’s National Security Reform program.
“It might run contrary to their larger project based on efforts to cut the civilian workforce, but there are a lot of areas to cut Pentagon waste by actually building up government capacity to do basic administrative functions rather than outsourcing them at a very high cost.”
HEGSETH WELCOMES IN ELON MUSK’S DOGE FOR ‘LONG OVERDUE’ DOD SPENDING OVERHAUL
The Pentagon is seen from Air Force One as it flies over Washington, D.C., on March 2, 2022.(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
In 2015, the Defense Business Board, at the request of DOD leaders, found that the Pentagon could save $125 billion over five years by renegotiating service contracts, streamlining the bureaucracy through attrition and early retirements, and consolidating IT processes.
The report found the Pentagon was paying an eye-watering 1,014,000 contractors to fill back-office jobs far away from the front lines. The DOD currently only lists around 1.3 million active duty troops.
However, the plan was never widely implemented, and Pentagon leaders took steps to “bury” it for fear of budget cuts, according to a Washington Post report.
In October 2024, a two-year audit by the Defense Department Inspector General found Boeing overcharged the Air Force by 8,000% for soap dispensers that the service branch paid $149,072 over market price for. Of a selected 46 spare parts that were scrutinized by the audit, the report found the Air Force overpaid about $1 million for 12 of them for its C-17 transport planes.
That followed a 2018 congressional inquiry that revealed the Air Force was spending $1,300 for each reheatable coffee cup on its KC-10 aircraft – and then replacing them instead of repairing them when their handles broke. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, found the Air Force spent $32,000 replacing 25 cups.
Weapons programs: F-35s and land-based ICBMs
Musk has suggested that he will look to eliminate the F-35 stealth fighter jet program, long dogged by cost overruns, glitches and delays. In posts on X, he called it the “the worst military value for money in history,” and the jet itself “an expensive & complex jack of all trades, master of none” and added that “manned fighter jets are obsolete in the age of drones anyway.”
However, doing away with the F-35 has run into opposition in Congress every time it has been suggested.
A recent report put out by Taxpayers for Common Sense, Quincy Institute and Stimson called for retiring the F-35 jets and eliminating a ballistic missile program.
Elon Musk has suggested that he will look to eliminate the F-35 stealth fighter jet program, long dogged by cost overruns, glitches and delays.(Andrej Tarfila/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Halting the F-35 fighter jet program, dogged by cost overruns, glitches and delays, as some have advocated for, would trim $12 billion per year, according to the joint report.
But Congress would need to get on board with defunding the F-35 in its yearly defense bill, and Lockheed Martin produces the plane’s parts in many states across the country, where lawmakers have constituents with jobs at risk.
“Defunding weapons that are overpriced, underperforming, and out of step with current missions, like the F-35 combat aircraft and the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile, would allow us to invest more in real priorities while also tackling the nation’s tremendous debt,” said Gabe Murphy of Taxpayers for Common Sense.
TRUMP DOD CREATES TASK FORCE TO ABOLISH DEI OFFICES THAT ‘PROMOTE SYSTEMIC RACISM’
“The ICBM no longer necessarily the most accurate, you know, weapon we have in our nuclear arsenal,” added Gledhill.
“We have our sea and air legs of the nuclear triad that are just as accurate and, you know, not as vulnerable as our ICBMs are because, you know, ICBMs are in the ground, we know where they are. It’s public knowledge.”
The report found that eliminating the Sentinel ICBM program would save $3.7 billion per year.
Base realignment
The Stimson report found that “targeted closures and realignments” of U.S. military bases could save another $3-5 billion per year.
“Even if say I accept all the missions we have now in the world, you could probably cut some overseas bases without even really rethinking strategy,” said Ben Friedman, policy director at Defense Priorities.
“If you accept that we’re trying to manage the Middle East through US military troop presence or at least the ability to deploy troops and say, okay, we could do with fewer bases.”
The Trump team is reportedly considering shutting down its presence in Syria, where 2,000 troops are currently stationed.
In the 1980s, under President Ronald Reagan, the government took up an effort known as Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), a post-Cold War process to coordinate the end of force postures that are no longer needed. Five rounds of BRAC shut down 350 installations at a savings of $12 billion, but the last BRAC process ended in 2011.
Targeted base closures could save taxpayers between $3-5 billion.(Photo by Hedil Amir/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Defense research
Some of the Pentagon’s $143.2 billion budget for research may also come under scrutiny.
Lawmakers last year demanded to know how an AI researcher in China acquired $30 million in U.S. grants. In 2021, Song-Chun Zhu was the lead investigator on two projects totaling $1.2 million from DOD grants seeking to develop “high-level robot autonomy” that is “important for DoD tasks,” and “cognitive robot platforms” for “intelligence and surveillance systems.”
Additionally, the Defense Department inspector general found last summer that $46.7 million in defense funds from 2014 to 2023 had gone to EcoHealth Alliance, the nonprofit that funded gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, a lab many suspect was the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa., a veteran, is chairwoman of the Senate DOGE Caucus and has called out wasteful spending at the Pentagon.(Reuters)
Use-it-or-lose-it spending
Under a use-it-or-lose-it policy, in the last month of the fiscal year, federal agencies work to spend all that is left in their federal budgets, worried that Congress will appropriate them a smaller amount next year if not. The Pentagon is no exception.
In September 2024, the DOD spent more than it had in any other month since 2008, with a hefty taxpayer price tag for fine dining.
It spent $6.1 million on lobster tails, $16.6 million on rib-eye steaks, 6.4 million on salmon and $407,000 on Alaskan king crab, as highlighted in an X thread by Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa.
That same month, DOD spent $211.7 million on new furniture, including $36,000 on foot rests.
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Political headwinds
Cost-cutting initiatives will face opposition from a Congress that has never been keen to take a scalpel to the nation’s defenses.
“If history is any kind of precedent, I do think that this is where you’ll start to see at least a real sort of tension arise,” said Diana Shaw, former State Department Inspector General. “There are a lot of vested interests, and not just economic.”
“There are folks with philosophical interests in the entire defense infrastructure and the military. And so, this is an area that has been well protected historically. And so I do think this now will be an interesting test case to see whether there will be, even within the Republican Party now, some pushback to the sort of aggressive cutting and picking apart that we’ve seen happen at other agencies that have historically been sort of less favored by members of the Republican Party.”
Serena Williams’ husband came to the tennis legend’s defense on social media amid criticism over her decision to participate in Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show and crip walk.
Williams performed the dance move in the midst of Lamar’s diss track toward rival rapper Drake. The retired tennis star also had a previous relationship with Drake, making her appearance during the track even more eyebrow-raising.
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Serena Williams dances during halftime at Super Bowl LIX, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans.(AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
She was one of a few surprises Lamar had for the show, which also included Samuel L. Jackson dressed as “Uncle Sam” doing social commentary in between the Compton rapper’s songs.
While some criticized Williams, Alexis Ohanian wrote in a post on X that her appearance was “bigger than music.”
“Some of y’all have no idea how criticized Serena was for this same dance at Wimbledon 13 years ago and it shows…. This is bigger than the music,” the Reddit co-founder wrote.
Williams crip-walked while at Wimbledon during the 2012 Olympics in London and drew criticism as well.
STEPHEN A SMITH SAYS HE WOULD DIVORCE SERENA WILLIAMS FOR SUPER BOWL HALFTIME SHOW CAMEO
Serena Williams dances on stage during Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show at Super Bowl LIX, Sunday in New Orleans.(AP Photo/George Walker IV)
“Also just wait until some of these folks learn about the illicit/criminal origins of Irish step-dancing or Northern English clog dancing! They’ll be APPALLED I tell you. OUTRAGED, even,” Ohanian added.
Williams appeared to be unbothered by the criticism. She posted several videos of herself before and after the halftime show.
“Let’s go Super Bowl halftime??! I died a little!” she wrote in one post Sunday night.
Williams is one of the most accomplished tennis players in recent memory – man or woman. She won 23 Grand Slam titles – second in women’s tennis history behind Margaret Court.
Serena Williams is cheered after her career-ending match at the U.S. Open in Flushing, New York, on Sept. 2, 2022.(John Conrad Williams, Jr./Newsday RM via Getty Images)
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She retired from professional tennis in 2022.
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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.
Valentine’s Day marks the day of showing your loved ones that you care. And who would be more deserving of such pampering than your pet? They love us unconditionally and are excited to see us every time we walk in the door. Many see them as their life companions, best friends or family members. On this Valentine’s Day, you can show your unconditional love for your pet with these fun activities. Valentine’s Day 2025: How Is the Day of Romance Related to Roman Festival Lupercalia? V-Day Origins & Traditions Explained.
1. Walk in a local park
If your pet’s version of the perfect day involves running laps at the park, take him! Try not to worry about the problems of daily life and focus on quality time with your pet. You can also capture the memories of their good time with your camera.
2. Treat your pet
A delicious meal for your pet on the first day of Valentine’s week can be the best way to show your love for them. The pet bakeries are now available all across the country. They serve delicious treats which also cater to the animal’s dietary restrictions. You can also even whip up your batch of cupcakes for the V-day.
3. A date for pet
Valentine’s Day is all about the love you share and express with your friends and partners. Your pets are no exception to it either. If your pet enjoys playing with others of the same species, invite his/her friends over for a good time. The play dates of the pet are always a fun time for everyone involved.
4. Professional photoshoot
Your phone’s photo gallery might have been already full of adorable pictures of your pet but arranging a professional photoshoot on Valentine’s Day can be a priceless keep for you to cherish the memories of your pet. Nowadays, it’s not hard to find a professional photographer for pets. There are now several stores which offer portrait packages for pets.
5. Grooming your pet
On Valentine’s Day, you can arrange a grooming session for your pet. It includes brushing, bathing, and cleaning their ears and nails. The frequency of grooming depends on your pet’s coat, skin, health, and activity level. It will make them feel pampered.
Serena Williams made a surprise cameo during Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show, as she was spotted dancing during the performance of “Not Like Us.”
Making an appearance for that song sparked some debate on social media, especially considering Lamar’s song is a diss track toward the rapper Drake, whom Williams dated in 2011.
Many believed it was no coincidence Williams’ time to shine was during this track, and ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith thinks the same.
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Serena Williams dances on stage during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans.(AP Photo/George Walker IV)
It’s why, during his Monday edition of “First Take,” he told his colleagues he would divorce her if he was her husband.
“If I’m married and my wife is going to join trolling her ex, go back to his a–, ‘cause clearly you don’t belong with me,” Smith said on the show, which led to some laughter from his colleagues.
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“What you worried about him for and you’re with me? Bye. Bye.”
Williams is married to Alexis Ohanian, the co-founder of Reddit, and they share two daughters together.
Smith’s co-host Ryan Clark responded, “If you were with Serena Williams, you’re going to be a kept man anyways. Don’t start that.”
Serena Williams dances during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans.(AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Lamar and Drake have quite the beef with each other, though only one of them saw Grammys won for their diss tracks.
“Not Like Us” won Song of the Year, which also won Record of the Year, Best Rap Song, Best Rap Performance, and Best Music Video.
It’s also worth noting Lamar was joined by SZA during the performance as well, and she confirmed dating Drake after he rapped about it on the track, “Mr. Right Now,” with 21 Savage and Metro Boomin.
Whether it’s trolling or not, Williams and Lamar do share a connection with their childhood, having grown up in Compton, California.
Serena Williams dances on stage during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
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Legendary actor Samuel L. Jackson was also seen during the performance as “Uncle Sam,” as Lamar switched songs throughout.
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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) reportedly provided “full funding” for al Qaeda terrorist Anwar al-Awlaki to attend college in Colorado, unearthed documents apparently show.
Al-Awlaki was an American-born jihadist who was killed in a drone strike in Yemen in 2011, during the Obama administration. He was a central figure of al Qaeda, including having direct contact with Army psychiatrist Nidal Hasan before he opened fire at Fort Hood, Texas, in 2009, killing 13 people, U.S. officials reported at the time.
Amid the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) investigations of federal government agencies in search of overspending, corruption and fraud, political eyes have been locked on USAID funding.
USAID is an independent government agency charged with managing foreign aid programs that has been exposed by Republican lawmakers, DOGE and think tanks for bankrolling a series of questionable programs across the years, including helping launch an Iraqi version of “Sesame Street” and promoting transgender activism in nations such as Guatemala.
I AM A USAID WHISTLEBLOWER. I’VE GOT TO ADMIT, MUSK IS MOSTLY RIGHT ABOUT AGENCY’S WASTE
Anwar Al-Awlaki, pictured here at Dar al Hijrah Mosque on Oct. 4, 2001, in Falls Church, Virginia, was an American-born jihadist who was killed in a drone strike in Yemen in 2011.(Tracy Woodward/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Social media accounts erupted this week with a copy of a document reportedly showing USAID also funded al-Awlaki’s tuition to Colorado State University. The document, which investigative reporters unearthed and posted to X over the weekend, shows that a USAID form dated June 1990 outlined al-Awlaki was reportedly granted funding to attend the college by fraudulently claiming he was a Yemeni national and qualified for an exchange visa.
HOW USAID WENT WOKE AND DESTROYED ITSELF
Al-Awlaki was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico, in 1971 to parents from Yemen. He was raised both in the U.S. and Yemen, U.S. media reported in 2011 following his death.
The unearthed document previously was reported by George Washington University’s research and archival institution, the National Security Archive, Fox Digital found.
Anwar Al-Awlaki was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico, in 1971 to parents from Yemen, and was raised both in the U.S. and Yemen.(Tracy Woodward/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
“This form, dated 1990, confirms that Anwar al-Awlaki was qualified for an exchange visa and that USAID was providing ‘full funding’ for his studies at Colorado State University,” the National Security Archive reported in 2015 accompanied by a copy of the document. “The document lists Anwar’s birthplace incorrectly as Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, which he later said was a deliberate falsehood offered at the urging of American officials who knew his father so that he could qualify for a scholarship reserved for foreign citizens,”
JUDGE TEMPORARILY BLOCKS 2,200 USAID WORKERS FROM BEING PLACED ON LEAVE BY MIDNIGHT
The document reports al-Awlaki fraudulently reported he was born in the Yemen capital Sana’a and was studying civil engineering at the Colorado university. When asked to list an address, the document reports that al-Awlaki was in the care of “USAID/Sana’a.”
Anwar al-Awlaki worked as a Muslim cleric in cities such as Denver, San Diego and Falls Church, Virginia, before moving to Yemen in 2004. Patricia Morris and Imam al-Awlaki, right, are photographed inside Dar al Hijrah Mosque in Falls Church, Virginia.(Tracy A. Woodward/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Fox News Digital reached out to Colorado State University’s media team for comment on the document and al-Awlaki’s attendance but did not immediately receive a reply.
AL-AWLAKI FACED LOSS OF US PASSPORT BEFORE DRONE STRIKE KILLED HIM, DOCUMENTS SHOW
He earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Colorado State University in 1994, according to previous media reports on his 2011 death.
He worked as a Muslim cleric in cities such as Denver, San Diego and Falls Church, Virginia, before moving to Yemen in 2004. Al-Awlaki was preaching at a San Diego mosque in 2000 when he reportedly first met Khalid al-Mihdhar and Nawaf al-Hazmi, two of the 9/11 hijackers.
The unearthed document reportedly connecting Anwar al-Awlaki to USAID funding comes amid the Trump administration’s apparent dismantling of the agency.(Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images )
He was arrested in 2006 in Yemen on suspicion of holding terrorist ties, with U.S. intelligence viewing him as a terrorist sympathizer until about 2009, NBC News previously reported. He was linked to the shooting at Fort Hood in Texas that year, as well as the attempted bombing of a flight to Detroit on Christmas Day.
YOUTUBE FINALLY REMOVES AND BANS ALL ANWAR AL-AWLAKI VIDEOS
The Obama administration authorized operations to capture or kill al-Awlaki in 2010, with a drone strike on Sept. 30, 2011, killing him in Yemen.
“The death of Awlaki marks another significant milestone in the broader effort to defeat al Qaeda and its affiliates,” President Barack Obama said of the death in 2011. “Furthermore, the success is a tribute to our intelligence community and to the efforts of Yemen and its security forces, who have worked closely with the United States over the course of several years.”
President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk attend the launch of a SpaceX Starship rocket in November 2024.(Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
The unearthed document reportedly connecting al-Awlaki to USAID funding comes amid the Trump administration’s apparent dismantling of the agency. Signage for the agency was removed from its headquarters in early February, while the USAID website was shut down and previously only showed a message stating “direct-hire personnel” would be placed on leave Feb. 7, except those on “mission-critical functions, core leadership and specially designated programs.”
A federal judge on Friday ordered a temporary block to the Trump administration’s plan to put roughly 2,200 employees of the agency on leave. The order remains in effect until at least Feb. 14.
Democrats and government employees have railed against DOGE and its chair, Elon Musk, including USAID employees calling DOGE’s investigation a “mafia-like takeover” of the agency and reporting they are “psychologically frightened” he would share their private data publicly.
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Trump said during an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier, which aired Sunday, that DOGE and his administration remain on a mission to cut government waste.
“We have to solve the efficiency problem,” Trump said. “We have to solve the fraud, waste, abuse, all the things that have gone into the government. You take a look at the USAID, the kind of fraud in there.”
International Epilepsy Day is celebrated every year on the second Monday of February. International Epilepsy Day 2025 falls on Monday, February 10. The day aims to raise awareness about epilepsy and show support to those living with the brain condition. Epilepsy is a brain condition that causes seizures. This observance aims to educate people, remove any fear of the disorder, and fight the stigma around it. Many events are held worldwide, including talks, seminars, campaigns, and support programmes for those with epilepsy. The day also encourages research and better treatment options. People wear purple to show support and unity. To raise awareness about the day and show support, netizens took to social media to share International Epilepsy Day 2025 messages, quotes, images, wallpapers, sayings, and informative posts. Epilepsy Awareness Day Date & Significance: What Is Epilepsy? Everything To Know About Purple Day Dedicated to the Neurological Disorder.
International Epilepsy Day Messages
Every year the second Monday of February is observed as International Epilepsy Day, and this year it is celebrated on 10 February. The day spreads awareness and educates people about the facts of epilepsy and the urgent need for improved treatment, better care, and research. pic.twitter.com/mxrINl48We
On International Epilepsy Day, let’s raise awareness, show support, and break the stigma surrounding epilepsy. Together, we can create a world of understanding and acceptance! 💡🌍💪
to shine a light on the challenges faced by people living with epilepsy. Also, to educate the general public about epilepsy and to teach people how to provide better care for people living with the disorder. pic.twitter.com/tHPTca99H6
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