Acting ICE director fires back at Hunter Biden
'That's just idiotic. It's dumb. You know, to make comments like that is crazy, because under the last administration, those are the problems we have right now. Under these former administrations, President Obama, President Biden, it's made illegal immigration common, in the commonplace, and that's just not the case,' Lyons told Fox News's John Roberts on 'America Reports.'
In an interview released Monday, the younger Biden told YouTube creator Andrew Callaghan that 'all these Democrats say, you have to talk about and realize that people are really upset about illegal immigration.'
'F— you,' the former president's son continued. 'How do you think your hotel room gets cleaned? How do you think you have food on your f—— table? Who do you think washes your dishes?'
'I'll tell you what, if I became president in two years from now, or four years from now, or three years from now, I would pick up the phone and call the f‑‑‑ing president in El Salvador and say, 'You either f‑‑‑ing send them back or I'm gonna f‑‑‑ing invade.' It's a f‑‑‑ing crime what they're doing. He's a f‑‑‑ing dictator thug,' Biden added later.
'Bukele or Trump?' Callaghan asked, referencing Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele.
'Both,' Biden responded.
Bukele responded to Biden on the social platform X in a post that referenced the latter's past drug use.
'Is Hunter Biden sniffing powdered milk?' Bukele said in his Monday post that featured a clip with Biden's comments.
During the first few months of his return to White House, President Trump and his administration have heavily cracked down on immigration. In mid-March, the administration deported Venezuelans and Salvadorans to the infamous CECOT prison in El Salvador.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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The Hill
14 minutes ago
- The Hill
Democrats: Don't retreat from the flag, march with it
Over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, I was pleased to see homes and businesses unfurl their American flags. The sight of those flags reminded me of something that caught my eye when I first started working at the Pentagon — the American flag patch on an Air Force officer's flight suit looked 'backward.' The stars appeared on the right side of the flag, with the horizontal stripes on the left. After spotting this same orientation on other military uniforms, I asked her about it. Without missing a beat, she explained, 'It's because in battle, the standard bearer led the formation holding the flag flying, always moving forward. The flag is supposed to fly in the direction we're heading. America leads.' America leads. Within that simple explanation lay a deeper truth: For the men and women who wear the uniform, the American flag is directional, not decorative. It represents motion, purpose and conviction. And for them, and for our nation, that direction is forward. As someone who never served but spent the Biden administration trying to improve the quality of service and quality of life for those who do, I came to understand that for members of the military, the flag stands for the Constitution and the oath they take to defend it — not an individual president, and certainly not a political movement. As I traveled to military installations around the world, I saw in action the powerful symbolism of the American flag. It means something when people see it on the shoulders of U.S. troops in conflict zones and to allies who fight alongside them. It means something when it arrives with humanitarian aid. And it means everything to those men and women in uniform who proudly display it — not because they agree with every administration or policy, but because they believe in the enduring promise of this country. That's why it pains me to see some Democrats, progressives and young Americans who oppose President Trump's authoritarianism turn away from the flag. At protests opposing the militarization of our cities, some burn it in anger or let other nations' flags stand in for our own. The impulse is understandable — especially for those who feel marginalized, betrayed or worse, targeted, by his dark vision. However, Democrats cannot let frustration with what he's doing to the country drive them to disown its foundational symbols. The Trump era will end, and when it does, the party needs a positive agenda to build back from the charred, hollow husk of a democracy Trump and henchmen intend to leave us. That's why Democrats can't abandon the flag. Instead, the party has to reclaim it. The American flag doesn't belong to Trump. His appointees use it as a prop, his fans desecrate it as a costume, and, when his followers are unhappy with the direction of the country, as a warning: flying it upside down or swapping it out entirely for symbols of defeat and division. When Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, they did it wrapped in the Confederate flag, the Gadsden 'Don't Tread on Me' flag, even Trump's campaign flag. These are not expressions of patriotism; they're declarations of resentment, conspiracy and insurrection. Meanwhile, progressives have always fought for what the flag is supposed to mean: equal justice under law, the dignity of all people and opportunity regardless of background. Members of the Democratic Party have led the battles for civil rights, voting rights, reproductive freedom, worker protections and gay and transgender equality. These are not fringe causes; they are deeply American causes. And that's why Democrats and progressives should fly the flag. They should be proud to carry the American flag at every march, every campaign rally, every protest for justice and equality. I still have the American flags I and other progressives waved in Chicago's Grant Park on election night 2008. We should make it clear that this flag represents our values: the belief that our democracy must be defended against all threats foreign and domestic, and that the Constitution means what it says — all of it, not just the parts that are politically convenient. Let Trump wrap himself in symbols of grievance. Let his allies turn upside-down flags into a twisted badge of resistance. For too long, Democrats and progressives have allowed ourselves to be painted as somehow less patriotic because we dare to criticize America's shortcomings. We should be the ones raising the flag upright and forward, just as that Air Force officer explained to me years ago — because we still believe in leading, in progressing, in moving forward. It's time to remind Americans that the flag belongs not to those trying to dismantle our democracy, but to those determined to protect it. This first year of Trump's nightmarish sequel, next year during America's 250th birthday celebration, and then into the midterm elections, Democrats, regardless of whether they are veterans, should raise it proudly. They should not do this as a symbol of blind nationalism, but as a declaration of fidelity to democratic principles and as a symbol of our commitment to make the values that underpin it real once again. Alex Wagner is an adjunct professor at the Maxwell School, Syracuse University and was the assistant secretary of the Air Force for manpower and reserve affairs during the Biden administration.
The Hill
14 minutes ago
- The Hill
Democratic leaders accuse Republicans of protecting pedophiles
House Democratic leaders on Wednesday stepped up their hardball criticism of President Trump and the GOP over the Jeffrey Epstein controversy, accusing their rivals of shielding pedophiles by not releasing federal files surrounding the case. The Democrats say the decision of GOP leaders to leave Washington a day early for the long summer recess — a move precipitated by Democratic efforts to force votes compelling the Trump administration to release those files — is indication that Republicans don't want the details of the Epstein case revealed because they might implicate wealthy GOP donors, or even President Trump himself. 'What a fitting end to these six months of Republican control in Washington,' Rep. Katherine Clark (Mass.), the Democratic whip, said during a press briefing in the Capitol. 'Instead of doing their jobs — instead of standing up for kids, for families, instead of standing on the side of transparency and accountability — Republicans are running away, all to avoid the release of the Epstein client list, all to cover-up for pedophiles.' The fiery rhetoric comes as the House has been effectively shutdown by Democrats seeking votes on Epstein-related measures, which have divided Republicans. Some Republicans have backed releasing all files held by the Department of Justice, while others have argued for some discretion. Democrats, who have been on their heels for much of Trump's six months in office, have rallied around the issue. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said the administration's refusal to release the files — combined with the efforts by House Republicans to avoid votes on the issue — are part of a broader GOP effort to prioritize policies that benefit the rich and powerful. 'In the context of this Jeffrey Epstein scandal, and their refusal to share information to the American people despite promising to do so, one must ponder the question: What are they hiding from the American people? And what billionaires, what well-connected donors, what elite people are they trying to protect? Why haven't Republicans released the Epstein files to the American people?' Jeffries said. 'It's reasonable to conclude that Republicans are continuing to protect the lifestyles of the rich and shameless — even if that includes pedophiles,' he continued. 'That's a conclusion that, if this continues, one will necessarily be compelled to reach.' Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) announced Tuesday that the House will scrap the week's legislative plans in response to the Democrats' strategy of forcing votes in the Rules Committee to release the Epstein files. The tactic divided Republicans on the Rules panel, paralyzing the committee. Without legislation to vote on, Johnson said the chamber will recess on Wednesday, rather than Thursday, for the previously scheduled summer break. On Wednesday, Johnson defended those moves and rejected the Democrats' accusations out of hand. He said he supports every effort to punish those who committed crimes alongside Epstein — 'We want the full weight of the law to fall upon their head,' he said — but because the Trump administration says it's already moving to release the files, there's no need for Congress to force its hand. He's accusing Democrats of playing 'political games' for the sole purpose of damaging Trump. 'There is no point in having a vote today because the administration is already doing everything within their power to release them,' Johnson told reporters in the Capitol. 'They've gone to the grand jury, they've requested the courts to unseal the documents so that they can be released. The president himself has said all credible evidence should be put out to the American people while protecting the innocent. 'That's where we stand as well.' The saga surrounding Epstein, the late financier and convicted pedophile, has posed a huge challenge to Trump six months into his second term. On the campaign trail, the president had vowed to release the Justice Department's records on the case; Vice President Vance had said it was 'important' to take that step; and a number of Trump supporters who had promoted the conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein — namely, that the government was concealing the files to shield powerful 'elites' from criminal charges — have since assumed positions of high power in the Trump administration, including Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel. Those placements led to expectations among the MAGA faithful that releasing the Epstein records would be a top priority of Trump's second term. Instead, the DOJ last week released an unsigned memo refuting all of the most damning theories surrounding the case. Epstein had no 'client list,' the DOJ said, nor is there evidence that he tried to blackmail powerful figures who might have committed crimes with minors. The agency also concluded that Epstein's 2019 death in a Manhattan prison was by suicide, not foul play, as some far-right voices have speculated. The DOJ memo infuriated many of Trump's most ardent supporters, on and off of Capitol Hill. And the outcry has posed the most serious threat to the unity of the MAGA movement since Trump's entrance into the world of politics. Democrats have been eager to exacerbate those divisions by highlighting Trump's past ties to Epstein and pushing resolutions designed to force the release of the DOJ files. But voices on the right have also been frustrated by DOJ's actions, and a minority have expressed criticism of Trump himself. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green (R-Ga.), a staunch Trump ally, is also pushing to have the Epstein files publicized. And Rep. Tom Massie (R-Ky.), who frequently clashes with Trump, has taken a leading role in the effort to compel the administration to release the documents. Massie, a wildcard in his party who has also feuded with Johnson, accused the Speaker of shielding pedophiles. '@SpeakerJohnson, why are you running cover for an underage sex trafficking ring and pretending this is a partisan issue?' Massie posted on X. 'MAGA voted for this.'
The Hill
14 minutes ago
- The Hill
Speaker Johnson questions if Ghislaine Maxwell can ‘be counted on to tell the truth'
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Wednesday openly questioned if Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted sex offender and longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein, would be a credible witness as some lawmakers and federal officials move to speak with her amid the renewed focus on Epstein. The comments came one day after a House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee voted to subpoena Maxwell to have her appear for a deposition. Also on Tuesday, a senior official at the Department of Justice (DOJ) reached out to Maxwell's lawyers about setting up a meeting with her. Johnson, however, is questioning if Maxwell would offer truthful testimony. 'I fully support my committee chairs, Jamie Comer is a trusted friend, he's an excellent chairman of the Oversight Committee, and he has a duty and responsibility to follow the truth where it leads,' Johnson said when asked if he supports the panel's move. 'And so every single one of us are for maximum transparency, and we'll use every power that we have to ensure that that's done. If they see fit to bring in Ghislaine Maxwell for testimony, that's fine.' 'I will note the obvious concern, the caveat that Chairman Comer and I and everyone has that, can she be counted on to tell the truth? Is she a credible witness?' he added. 'I mean, this is a person who's been sentenced to many, many years in prison for terrible, unspeakable, conspiratorial acts. Acts against innocent young people.' He continued, asking: 'Can we trust what she's gonna say, even if she raises her hand and says that she'll testify under oath?' 'Is that something that can be trusted? You know, that's a reasonable question. Is that credible evidence?' he added. 'I don't know, but we'll have to see. We have to, you know, uncover everything that we can and let the American people evaluate.' Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison in June 2022 after being found guilty of conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, conspiracy to transport minors to participate in illegal sex acts, transporting a minor to participate in illegal sex acts, sex trafficking conspiracy and sex trafficking of a minor. Johnson's comments come as the Republican Party remains at odds over the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein case, which has roiled Capitol Hill for two weeks and prompted Johnson to send lawmakers home for the extended August recess a day early. Democrats and a number of Republicans are demanding the release of all the Epstein files, requesting transparency in the case that has been a subject of conversation and conspiracies for years. Trump, meanwhile, has tried to tamp down the controversy. In a sign of the fracturing, the House came to a partial standstill this week and last week as lawmakers tried to force a vote to compel the administration to publish the documents. Democrats on the House Rules Committee planned to force a vote on a bipartisan resolution — led by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) — this week, but Republicans, concerned about voting down the measure, as is customary for members of the majority when facing a measure led by the minority party, said they would not do so. That came after Republicans on the panel opposed a similar measure last week, prompting serious pushback from constituents at home. As a result, Republicans on the Rules Committee advanced a non-binding resolution last week calling for the release of some information from the case. Democrats, however, are still pressing for a vote on the bipartisan measure, leading to this week's standstill and preventing the House from voting on any legislation through regular order. Instead, the chamber is processing non-controversial legislation through the fast-track suspension of the rules process. Amid the freeze, Republicans are attempting other avenues to get information. On Tuesday, during an unrelated hearing for an Oversight subcommittee, Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) moved to direct the panel to authorize and issue a subpoena for Maxwell to appear for a deposition, which passed by voice vote. Johnson on Tuesday defended his handling of the situation, telling reporters: 'No one in Congress is blocking Epstein documents.' 'No one in Congress is doing that,' he added. 'What we are doing here, Republicans are preventing Democrats from making a mockery of the Rules Committee process because we refuse to engage in their political charade. That is what is happening and nothing more.'
