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Democratic National Committee (DNC) Vice Chair David Hogg took heat on social media on Monday as he criticized President Donald Trump for his appearance at the Daytona 500.
Trump was at Daytona International Speedway for the event and became the first president to be at the race twice. He was in the presidential limousine, “The Beast,” as it led drivers on a pace lap before the green flag dropped. He also delivered a personal message to racers as well.
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President Donald Trump, center, greets drivers at the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida.(Pool via AP)
As Trump said the spirit of NASCAR and its fans will “fuel America’s Golden Age,” Hogg claimed the president’s decision to go to the race was nothing more than a “publicity stunt.”
“Driving in circles for a multi million dollar publicity stunt while claiming you care so much about ‘efficiency’ as thousands are illegally fired from their jobs and prices continue to climb is the perfect symbolism for the Trump admin,” Hogg wrote on X.
The DNC official faced criticism for his remarks.
ELON MUSK’S 1-WORD REACTION TO TRUMP’S DAYTONA 500 LAP IN ‘THE BEAST’
Hogg took over as the DNC vice chair earlier this month. He rose to prominence as a survivor of the 2018 Parkland, Florida, school shooting and founded a political action committee in 2023, which he said aims to help young progressives get elected to Congress and state legislatures across the country.
President Donald Trump rides in the presidential limousine known as “The Beast” as he takes a pace lap ahead of the start of the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida.(Pool via AP)
Trump praised NASCAR drivers during his appearance at the race.
“They have a lot of courage doing this. I see it and I’ve been here,” the president told FOX Sports’ Jamie Little. “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.
David Hogg, an American gun control activist, speaks during the Texas Democratic Party Convention in El Paso, Texas, at the El Paso Convention Center on Friday, June 7, 2024.(GABY VELASQUEZ/ EL PASO TIMES / USA TODAY NETWORK)
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“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.”
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Elon Musk, the billionaire mogul in charge of Tesla, X, SpaceX and the Department of Government Efficiency, had one word to describe President Donald Trump’s time at NASCAR’s Daytona 500.
Trump was a fixture in the pre-race festivities on Sunday. He rode in “The Beast” as it went around Daytona International Speedway for one lap. He also had a special message for the drivers, which was broadcast on their radios before the green flag flew.
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President Donald Trump, center, greets drivers at the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida.(Pool via AP)
“This is your favorite president. I’m a big fan,” he said. “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.”
Musk reacted on X.
“Awesome,” he wrote.
Trump and the contingency of people who flew on Air Force One with him for the race were three for a few laps. However, rain delayed the restart for a few hours.
It was William Byron who drove his car to Victory Lane on Sunday night. It was the second straight year he won the Daytona 500.
RYAN PREECE THOUGHT OF DAUGHTER AS CAR FLEW THROUGH AIR IN SCARY WRECK AT DAYTONA 500
President Donald Trump rides in the presidential limousine, known as “The Beast,” as he takes a pace lap ahead of the start of the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida.(Pool via AP)
Trump applauded the courage drivers have going at speeds of nearly 200 mph to win a race.
“They have a lot of courage doing this. I see it, and I’ve been here,” the president told FOX Sports’ Jamie Little. “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.
William Byron celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida.(AP Photo/John Raoux)
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“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.”
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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.
SpaceX workers will visit the Air Traffic Control System Command Center on Monday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy noted in a Sunday post on X, in which he also mentioned former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, with whom he recently engaged in a social media spat.
“America deserves safe, state-of-the-art air travel, and President Trump has ordered that I deliver a new, world-class air traffic control system that will be the envy of the world,” Duffy declared, noting that he’d welcome assistance from American developers or businesses.
“To do that, I need advice from the brightest minds in America. I’m asking for help from any high-tech American developer or company that is willing to give back to our country.
SEAN DUFFY TELLS HILLARY CLINTON TO ‘SIT THIS ONE OUT’ AFTER SHE CHIMES IN ON HIS DOGE ANNOUNCEMENT
Left: U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy speaks to reporters about the collision of an American Airlines flight with a military Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport, in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on Jan. 30, 2025 in Washington, D.C.; Right: Hillary Clinton at the Navalny Screening held at the Museum of Modern Art on Jan. 30, 2025 in New York, N.Y.(Left: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images; Right: Lexie Moreland/WWD via Getty Images)
“Tomorrow, members of @elonmusk’s SpaceX team will be visiting the Air Traffic Control System Command Center in VA to get a firsthand look at the current system, learn what air traffic controllers like and dislike about their current tools, and envision how we can make a new, better, modern and safer system.”
He then brought up Clinton.
“Because I know the media (and Hillary Clinton) will claim Elon’s team is getting special access, let me make clear that the @FAANews regularly gives tours of the command center to both media and companies.”
SENATE CONFIRMS TRUMP PICK SEAN DUFFY FOR TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY
In the post on Sunday, Duffy also said that he will visit the FAA Academy this week.
“Later in the week, I will travel to the FAA Academy in Oklahoma to meet with air traffic controller instructors and students to learn more about their education and how we can ensure that only the very best guide our aircrafts,” he noted.
“My door at @USDOT is open to any and all patriotic developers or companies who want to help our country in this incredible, game-changing mission. I hope to hear from any company committed to ushering in America’s golden age of travel!”
President Donald Trump tapped business magnate Elon Musk to spearhead the Department of Government Efficiency, an effort to uncover federal government waste, fraud, and abuse.
TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY REASSURES PUBLIC ABOUT AIR TRAVEL SAFETY AFTER DEADLY CRASH: ‘SAFEST FORM OF TRAVEL’
Left: Sean Duffy, US secretary of transportation, during an executive order signing in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025; Right: In this photo illustration a SpaceX logo seen displayed on a smartphone(Left: Samuel Corum/Sipa/Bloomberg via Getty Images; Right: Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
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“The safety of air travel is a non-partisan matter. SpaceX engineers will help make air travel safer,” Musk wrote in response to Duffy’s tweet.
Earlier this month, Clinton and Duffy engaged in a back and forth on X after Duffy noted that the DOGE team would help upgrade the aviation system.
Moderate members of New York City’s otherwise overwhelmingly progressive City Council met with President Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, on the same day the lawman met with Mayor Eric Adams.
Homan, himself a New York State native from the Watertown area, joined a meeting of the bipartisan “Common Sense Caucus” led by Councilmembers Bob Holden, D-Glendale, and Joann Ariola, R-Howard Beach.
At the meeting, Homan pledged to act swiftly when informed of another migrant shelter being planned for an outer borough.
Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato told 1010WINS after the meeting that Homan had been incensed to learn that Adams’ Office of Asylum-Seeker Operations had announced a 2,200-bed shelter in the Bronx.
DEMOCRATIC NYC COUNCILMAN BOB HOLDEN BACKS ZELDIN OVER HOCHUL
Tom Homan and NYC skyline(AP/Reuters)
“Get me that address,” Homan reportedly told Marmorato, R-Throggs Neck.
The shelter is planned for a low-income area off the Bruckner Expressway in Mott Haven – not far from the RFK-Triboro Bridge, according to reports.
“Enough is enough,” Marmorato – the only Bronx Republican on council – headlined a press release about “migrant dumps” there.
Holden is a moderate who famously took office in 2017 by unseating a Democrat who outraised him tenfold while running on the endorsed Republican, Conservative and Dump de Blasio ballot lines.
“Today, we had a productive meeting with Tom Homan, the Border Czar, to discuss the serious public safety consequences of sanctuary laws,” Holden said in a statement.
“I have full confidence in Homan and his team to enforce federal laws and keep our communities safe.”
As for Adams’ meeting with Homan, he appreciated the mayor’s acknowledgment of the crisis, but added, “words are not enough – he needs to take real action.”
BLUE CITY POLICE SERGEANTS SAY THEY’RE PAID LESS THAN SUBORDINATES AS BILLIONS GO TO MIGRANTS
Adams, who on Thursday also pledged to work with the feds to fight gang proliferation at the city’s Rikers Island prison, announced executive action to reopen an ICE facility on the island in Hell Gate.
Holden called the move a “significant first step” toward prioritizing New York City public safety.
“I first pitched the idea of reopening the ICE office in December, and I’m glad to see action finally being taken. Thank you to Tom Homan for his leadership on this issue.”
Councilwoman Inna Vernikov, a Brighton Beach Republican and immigrant from Ukraine, noted that her family “came here legally” and slammed the “top-down failures” of the Biden era.
“It’s a thrill to have a man of action leading immigration and border enforcement,” Vernikov said on X, formerly Twitter, adding that she was unable to make the meeting itself but sent a staffer in her stead.
“The consensus is that we are all done with the media and leftist politicians making excuses for lawbreaking,” she said, adding that she had paved her own path to legal citizenship and now practices immigration law.
“Illegal immigration is destroying this city and is offensive to citizens. Full stop. If the mayor won’t revoke sanctuary city status, I expect the Trump administration will provide very compelling and hard-hitting incentives to do so.”
Ariola, who took over as the caucus’ GOP co-chair upon longtime Staten Island Councilman Joe Borelli’s retirement, said on X that “we need change – we need it now.”
Councilman David Carr, R-New Dorp, also tweeted about the Homan meeting, saying New York needs to stop “shielding” migrants from ICE.
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Councilwoman Vickie Paladino, R-Whitestone, reacted to the meeting by pledging to double her efforts to fight the crisis.
“Despite the progressive monopoly in this city, I plan to use whatever power I have, in partnership with the Trump Administration wherever possible, to keep my district and my constituents safe,” she said.
Democrats currently hold a 44-5 supermajority on the council, with one vacancy from each party.
One caucusmember, however, skipped the meeting with Homan, saying that she had a scheduling conflict and that “not every immigrant is a criminal.”
“I am an immigrant. No one can ever tell me about the challenges faced by newcomers to New York and to this nation,” Councilwoman Susan Zhuang, who was born in China, told City & State.
“Find the criminals and deport them, yes. But leave decent hard-working families alone,” said Zhuang, D-Dyker Heights.
Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital.
He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant.
Charles covers media, politics and culture for Fox News Digital.
Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. Story tips can be sent to [email protected].
Television actress Rupali Ganguly recently took part in the grand Mahakumbh aarti, one of the most revered spiritual events in India. The actress, who has been vocal about her spiritual beliefs, was seen participating in the aarti with devotion, offering prayers and soaking in the divine atmosphere of the sacred event. In the photos, the Anupamaa actress is seen holding the aarti as she performed the sacred ritual during the Mahakumbh at Parmarth Niketan in Prayagraj. Maha Kumbh 2025: ‘Jannat’ Actress Sonal Chauhan Seeks Divine Blessings From Naga Sadhu, Calls It an ‘Enriching and Beautiful Experience’ (See Pics).
Some of the images show Rupali striking poses with spiritual leader Swami Chidanand Saraswati. Swami, President of Parmarth Niketan ashram in Rishikesh, shared photos with the actress from the arti and wrote in the caption, “Rupali Ganguly, the lead actress of the popular TV show Anupamaa, made her way to the divine land of Mahakumbh at Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Prayagraj. The sacred scene of the Sangam Aarti was witnessed in the holy presence of Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati Ji and Pujya Sadhvi Bhagwati Saraswati Ji. It was an extraordinary, celestial experience at the revered event.”
Rupali Ganguly Attends the Sangam Aarti at Prayagraj’s Maha Kumbh Mela
Numerous celebrities, including Neena Gupta, veteran actress Jaya Prada, comedian Sunil Grover, Remo D’Souza, Anupam Kher, Vidyut Jamwal, Pankaj Tripathi, Rajkummar Rao, Patralekhaa, Esha Gupta, Hema Malini, and Bhagyashree, among others, have taken a holy dip at the Maha Kumbh, one of the most revered spiritual events in India. Television actress Shivangi Joshi recently visited the Mahakumbh 2025 in Prayagraj with her family, where she participated in the sacred Kumbh Snan by taking a holy dip in the Triveni Sangam. Maha Kumbh 2025: Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa Meet Kinnar Akhara’s Swami Laxminarayan Tripathi; Mahamadaleshwar Urges Them To Create More LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Films (See Pics).
The Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai actress shared glimpses of her spiritual journey on Instagram. Shivangi posted pictures and videos capturing her experiences, including moments of her taking a holy dip in the Triveni Sangam, seeking blessings from priests, and witnessing the vibrant aarti. The Maha Kumbh 2025, which kicked off on Paush Purnima (January 13, 2025), is the world’s largest spiritual and cultural gathering. This grand event will continue until Mahashivratri on February 26.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 13, 2025 06:24 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Former NFL star Adam “Pacman” Jones appeared at a Super Bowl LIX party wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat in apparent support of President Donald Trump.
Jones spoke to Fox News Digital on the carpet ahead of “SI The Party” in New Orleans on Saturday night. He said he was “all for” Trump’s potential visit to Caesars Superdome to watch the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles.
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Adam “Pacman” Jones talks to Fox News Digital before a Super Bowl LIX party.(Fox News Digital)
“Love it. Love it. I’m all for it,” Jones said, adding he believed Trump has “got the best thing for us.”
Trump’s expected appearance at the Super Bowl has been the talk of the city since the first inkling that he may attend the event trickled out.
Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce both seemingly appreciated the idea of a sitting president taking the time to attend the game.
“It’s always cool to be able to play in front of a sitting president,” Mahomes said. “Someone that is at the top position in our country.”
Adam Jones on “The Pac McAfee Show” at the Super Bowl LVII media center at the Phoenix Convention Center in Arizona, Feb. 9, 2023.(Kirby Lee-USA Today Sports)
HOW TO WATCH SUPER BOWL LIX BETWEEN CHIEFS, EAGLES STREAMED ON TUBI
“I think it’s a great honor no matter who the president is,” Kelce added, via the New York Post. “I know I’m excited because it’s the biggest game of my life, you know, and having the president there, you know, it’s the best country in the world. So, that’d be pretty cool.”
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts also weighed in.
“He’s welcome to do what he wants,” Hurts said.
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Stream Super Bowl LIX coverage on Tubi for free.(Tubi)
When Hurts was asked a follow-up question about whether Trump being there would put more pressure on him, the quarterback responded, “No.”
Fox News’ Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.
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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.
President Donald Trump golfed with Tiger Woods on Sunday morning at Trump International Golf Club in Florida before his expected visit to New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX, a White House official told Fox News.
Trump is expected to head to the Caesars Superdome for the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles. The president’s interview with Fox News Channel’s Bret Baier will also air at 3 p.m. ET.
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President Donald Trump presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Tiger Woods at the White House on May 6, 2019.(Scott Taetsch-USA Today Sports)
Trump and Woods have become close over the years. Woods announced the death of his mother earlier in the week.
“It is with heartfelt sadness that I want to share that my dear mother, Kultida Woods, passed away early this morning,” Woods wrote in a post on X. “My Mom was a force of nature all her own, her spirit was simply undeniable. She was quick with the needle and a laugh. She was my biggest fan, greatest supporter, without her none of my personal achievements would have been possible. She was loved by so many, but especially by her two grandchildren, Sam and Charlie.
“Thank you all for your support, prayers and privacy at this difficult time for me and my family. Love you Mom.”
HOW TO WATCH SUPER BOWL LIX BETWEEN CHIEFS, EAGLES STREAMED ON TUBI
From left, Erica Herman, Kultida Woods, Sam Alexis Woods, Charlie Axel Woods, Tiger Woods, President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump pose for photographs after Tiger Woods was presented with the Medal of Freedom at the White House, May 6, 2019.(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Trump offered his condolences to the legendary golfer. Kultida Woods was with her son in 2019 when he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Trump.
“I was just informed that Tiger Woods’ wonderful Mother, Kultida, passed away – She has gone onto greener fairways!” Trump wrote in a post. “Kultida Woods was an amazing influence on Tiger, and gave him much of his strength and brilliance. Melania and I send our love and prayers to Tiger and his incredible family!”
It’s unclear if Woods will be at the game as well.
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Stream Super Bowl LIX coverage on Tubi for free.(Tubi)
Coverage of Super Bowl LIX begins at 1 p.m. ET. It will be broadcast on FOX and streamed live on Tubi.
Fox News’ Pat Ward contributed to this report.
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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.
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The Maha Kumbh Mela, or Great Pitcher Festival, is drawing hundreds of millions of pilgrims and tourists to India. The 45-day festival, which began Jan. 13, is the largest gathering of humanity in the world. It is expected to draw approximately 420 million.
That is about 200 times the number of Muslim pilgrims who participated in the annual Hajj in Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia, last year. It is so large it can be seen from outer space.
According to Hindu scriptures, gods and demons once churned the cosmic ocean in search of the nectar of immortality. During this struggle, drops of nectar fell at four sacred sites. The spiritual Hindu festival takes place once every 12 years at one of those four locations.
This year, it is being held in the city of Prayagraj in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. This year’s event is considered particularly special because it aligns with a rare, once-in-a-century celestial configuration.
WORLD’S LARGEST RELIGIOUS GATHERING BEGINS IN INDIA, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF HINDUS EXPECTED TO ATTEND
Hundreds of boats and thousands of devotees along the banks of Prayagraj.(Ava Poonawala)
Throngs of devotees have been descending on northern India to take a dip at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers. Hindus, who account for nearly 80% of India’s more than 1.4 billion people, believe a third invisible river, the mythical Saraswati, also meets at the confluence.
Legend holds that a dip in the holy waters will cleanse them of sins and grant salvation. Bathing occurs daily, but on the most auspicious dates, Naga Sadhus, Hindu ascetics, head into the holy rivers at dawn.
Ava Poonawala, a resident of Mumbai, India, made the journey not as a pilgrim, but to “witness the world’s largest religious event in our lifetime,” she explained to Fox News Digital. She took an early 6 a.m. dip just as the sun was rising.
After her chilly dip, she expressed feeling invigorated and at peace.
“Everyone seemed to be there with one purpose,” she told Fox News Digital. “And that was spiritual awakening.”
Rudraksh Baba sets up camp at Prayagraj wearing thousands of beads.(Ava Poonawala)
The Maha Kumbh Mela is a massive undertaking by any standard. To accommodate the tens of thousands of holy men, pilgrims and tourists, authorities have built a sprawling tent city on the riverbanks. It’s equipped with more than 150,000 tents and toilets, 3,000 kitchens and 11 hospitals, as well as roads, electricity, water and communication towers.
It covers some 15 square miles. About 50,000 security personnel, supported by artificial intelligence-powered cameras, are stationed in the city to maintain law and order and manage the crowds.
“I was blown away by the incredible magnitude of this event,” Poonawala told Fox News Digital. “It’s just unimaginable how they put this all together.”
STAMPEDE THAT KILLED 121 IN INDIA WAS CAUSED BY SEVERE OVERCROWDING AND LACK OF EXITS, AUTHORITIES SAY
A predawn stampede broke out at the festival last week, reportedly killing roughly three dozen people and injuring many more. Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences to “devotees who have lost their loved ones” without specifying the number dead.
Police reported the stampede occurred as hundreds of millions of pilgrims rushed to dip in sacred waters on the most auspicious day of the festival. Uttar Pradesh’s chief minister said some devotees attempted to jump crowd management barricades, triggering the crush. The Kumbh’s grand processions, which had been curtailed last week, have since resumed.
Prior to the stampede, the festival saw a brief but large fire, which was quickly extinguished.
A woman injured in a stampede at the Maha Kumbh festival is carried out by security officers at the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers, on Mauni Amavasya, or new moon day, in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India, Jan. 29, 2025.(AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
AT LEAST 30 DEAD IN STAMPEDE AT THE MASSIVE MAHA KUMBH FESTIVAL IN INDIA, POLICE SAY
For many, the marvel of the Maha Kumbh Mela lies neither in the religious nor spiritual experience, but rather the cultural extravaganza. It not only brings together ash-smeared monks, naked ascetics and priests dressed head-to-toe in saffron. It also attracts tourists with selfie sticks and awed foreigners.
Uttar Pradesh has gone to great lengths to promote this year’s festival as a tourist event, offering luxury packages and experiences. The government even organized helicopters to shower flower petals on the saints and seers taking a holy dip. The state has allocated more than $765 million for this year’s event.
The Kumbh has drawn people from all strata of society, whether it be billionaires like Laurene Powell Jobs, the wife of the late Steve Jobs, or athletes like Olympic boxer Mary Kom. Bollywood stars and celebrities like Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and his fiancée, actress Dakota Johnson, have descended on the festival.
Even royalty, like King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan, have made an appearance. On Wednesday, exactly a week after the stampede, Prime Minister Modi arrived in Prayagraj to take a sacred dip.
Saffron-clad priests at the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela.(Ava Poonawala )
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The Kumbh Mela’s popularity has steadily increased in size over the years as improved infrastructure and facilities have attracted more people. This year, for the first time ever, the massive event also boasts being plastic-free and eco-friendly. The festival is a significant test for India to showcase Hinduism and culture, as well as handle tourism and crowd management.
“The ground was buzzing at all hours, right through the night into the morning,” Poonawala said. “It was so surreal with such purity. I can’t even begin to explain it.”
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem announced on Friday that a second flight to Guantanamo Bay carrying “dangerous criminal aliens” had departed a day earlier – just as she is heading to the site where up to 30,000 migrants could eventually be held.
“A second flight of dangerous criminal aliens took off for Guantanamo Bay yesterday. ALL are known gang members from Venezuela,” she said on X.
She said that those on board included an immigrant who confessed to homicide and another wanted in Venezuela for escaping jail and for aggravated robbery with a weapon/intent to commit homicide.
FIRST 10 ‘HIGH THREAT’ ILLEGALS TO ARRIVE TO GUANTANAMO BAY ARE ALL TREN DE ARAGUA MEMBERS
This image shows migrants boarding a military flight to Guantanamo Bay.(Department of Homeland Security)
Other crimes said to be committed by passengers include weapons trafficking, robbery, drug distribution, assault and impersonation fraud.
Fox News reported Thursday that DHS had said there were 13 Venezuelan men on the plane, some of whom are suspected members of Tren de Aragua.
The Thursday flight was the second after a similar flight on Tuesday. Noem will visit the Guantanamo Bay facility on Friday, when she will see the detention and processing center and have tours and briefings on the site.
President Donald Trump announced last week that he was instructing the Pentagon to prepare to hold 30,000 nationals at the military base.
MEXICAN TROOPS BEGIN ARRIVING AT US-MEXICO BORDER FOLLOWING DEAL MADE TO PAUSE TRUMP-APPROVED TARIFFS
Homeland Security Kristi Noem joins an ICE raid in New York City on Tuesday. Noem said communities will be safer because of targeted raids that go after criminal illegal immigrants.(Department of Homeland Security)
About 380 service members are supporting the holding operations at Naval Station Guantanamo, U.S. Southern Command said Tuesday, adding that the number of service members will continue to fluctuate based on DHS requirements.
The Department of Defense (DOD) stated that these migrant criminals are being housed in vacant detention facilities. The DOD said that is only a temporary arrangement being made to “ensure the safe and secure detention of these individuals until they can be transported to their country of origin or other appropriate destination.”
DHS clarified that the Guantánamo Bay prison will be used to house only “the worst of the worst” criminals.
It is part of a broader mass deportation operation launched by the Trump administration on day one in office. President Trump declared a national emergency at the border and deployed the military to the border as part of a rapid-fire series of measures to crack down on illegal immigration.
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DHS has since taken a number of measures to free up ICE agents to arrest and deport illegal immigrants, and officers are frequently arresting over 1,000 a day.
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Fox News Digital reported on Thursday that any releases of illegal immigrants from ICE custody will now need the signature of the acting director, while the agency has also requested an apportionment of around $575 million from the Office of Management and Budget as an advance of its funding for the year in order to be able to work quicker and get another step closer to a reported target of 100,000 beds and 1 million removals a year.
Fox News’ Alexis McAdams, Peter Pinedo and Bill Melugin contributed to this report.
Adam Shaw is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital, primarily covering immigration and border security.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to the Middle East for a few days beginning next week for his second trip at the head of the State Department.
Rubio will visit Israel, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia after attending the Munich Security Conference in Germany, Fox News confirmed on Thursday.
While an itinerary has not yet been released, Rubio’s impending visit to the Middle East comes at a pivotal time in foreign policy, as Israel and Hamas are implementing a three-stage ceasefire agreement after 16 months of war in Gaza.
During a joint news conference in the Dominican Republic with President Luis Abinader on Thursday, Rubio said President Donald Trump has offered to be part of the solution to rebuild Gaza.
PANAMA PLEDGES TO END KEY CANAL DEAL WITH CHINA, WORK WITH US AFTER RUBIO VISIT
Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit four countries in the Middle East next week for his second trip in his new role. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)
Trump suggested on Wednesday that the U.S. take control of the Gaza Strip in order to rehabilitate the territory to a livable location as most of the area has been decimated and millions are displaced.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Wednesday that under Trump’s proposal, Palestinians would be “temporarily” relocated in order to successfully level and rebuild.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was on board with the proposed plan, describing it as “remarkable” and “the first good idea that [he’s] heard.”
“President Trump is taking it to a much higher level,” Netanyahu said from the White House with Trump on Wednesday. “He sees a different future for that piece of land that has been the focus of so much terrorism, so much, so many attacks against us, so many, so many trials and so many tribulations. He has a different idea, and I think it’s worth paying attention to this.”
President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu answer questions during a joint press conference in the East Room at the White House on Feb. 4, 2025.(REUTERS/Leah Millis)
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Rubio said “there are a lot of countries in the world that like to express concern about Gaza and the Palestinian people, but very few [were] willing, in the past, to do anything concrete about it.”
Gaza, which is run by Hamas terrorists, is not only uninhabitable because of the destruction from the war with Israel, but because of unexploded munitions, rockets and weapons that plague the land, Rubio said, adding that “it needs to be dealt with.”
“If some other country is willing to step forward and do it themselves, that would be great, but no one seems to be rushing forward to do that and that has to happen,” Rubio said Thursday.
Palestinians continue to return to what is left of their homes in Gaza City, Gaza, after a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.(Ali Jadallah/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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The secretary of state said he thinks Trump proposed the Gaza takeover idea in hopes of getting a reaction from countries who “have the economic and technological capacity to contribute to a post-conflict region.”
As of Friday morning, no other country has spoken out about a potential plan to rehabilitate Gaza.
