Latest news with #JointAddresstoCongress
Fox News
29-03-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
WATCH: Dems struggle to name the leader of the Democratic Party
Top voices in the Democratic Party, as well as average Democratic voters, have struggled to answer who the party's leader is when asked during interviews. A video from the conservative opposition research organization, America Rising, highlighted comments from Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elissa Slotkin on the matter, including average Americans, almost all of whom struggled to give a clear answer. "People know me, I'm pretty straightforward. I don't think it's a secret that Democrats have been on their heels since Trump won the election. I don't think that's something hidden. And I think it's on us to be clear about not only leadership, and there's lot of leaders in both parties, but also a strategy, right?" Slotkin said in a "Meet the Press" interview earlier this month, which is in the clip. At the time, she added that the party is still "finding their footing." Slotkin, who won her competitive Michigan seat in November, came into the national spotlight after responding to President Trump's Joint Address to Congress on March 4. "I think there's a lot of discontent with the Democratic leadership, and I think with the entire Democratic Party," Sanders said in an interview with CNN. Others asked in the video struggled to answer the question, except for one woman who said that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is the current leader of the party. "Nobody. There isn't one," another person said in the video. The progressive "Squad" leader recently held numerous "Fighting Oligarchy" events in Colorado, Arizona and Nevada with Sanders in opposition to the Trump administration. However, the jury is still out as to who, if anyone, can emerge as a uniting voice for progressives and moderates in the party while still maintaining staunch opposition to the Trump White House. Meanwhile, some in the clip outright objected to the notion that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who's technically the highest-ranking Democrat in the United States, is the actual leader. Schumer has faced some calls to step down from his position after voting in favor of a continuing resolution backed by the Trump administration to avert a government shutdown – a move that many Democrats in his own caucus disagreed with. A recent CNN poll of 504 Democrats or Democratic-leaning independents muddies the water even more, with Ocasio-Cortez getting the highest percentage of being considered the leader at 10%, with former Vice President Kamala Harris at 9% and Sanders at 8%. The same poll showed a 29% favorability for the Democrats, compared with 54% viewing them unfavorably.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ivanka Trump, who vowed to stay away from politics, is making a lot of appearances at Dad's events
Over the last couple of years, Ivanka Trump has bluntly stated she 'hates' politics and expressed little interest in resuming public life near Washington, D.C. 'I love my father very much. This time around I am choosing to prioritize my young children and the private life we are creating as a family. I do not plan to be involved in politics,' she stated in a 2022 social media post. Earlier this year, as her father transitioned back to the White House, the first daughter reiterated those feelings. 'I love policy and impact. I hate politics and unfortunately, the two are not separable,' Ivanka told The Skinny Confidential Him & Her podcast in January. 'There's a darkness in that world that I don't really want to welcome into mine.' For someone who hates the 'darkness in that world,' Ivanka sure has enjoyed the spotlight near her father and at his events in recent months. The Republican National Convention, Election Night and the recent Joint Address to Congress are three examples of her recent appearances near her father- despite her resentment of politics. The most recent appearance was this week at her father's joint congressional address alongside her husband, Jared Kushner. The 43-year-old sat in the president's box to watch the address, alongside First Lady Melania Trump and her siblings Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump and Tiffany Trump. Other guests in the box included Elon Musk, Second Lady Usha Vance and the family of Corey Comperatore, a firefighter killed by would-be assassin Thomas Crooks at Trump's July campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania last year. Notably absent was Barron Trump, the president's youngest son. The 18-year-old New York University skipped the address because he had classes scheduled this week, The Daily Mail reported. Ivanka shared an Instagram post chronicling her attendance with the caption, '48 hours in DC!' Hours later, she shared another post highlighting the outfit she wore to the address designed by Oscar de la Renta. 'Thank you, @oscardelarenta, for the exquisite navy blue tweed suit with orchid appliqués,' she wrote. 'Hair, makeup + photos by my dear friend @alexarodulfo (apparently I'm an ambi-turner … Serving right angles only in full Zoolander style).' But, her father's Congressional address is not the only political event that Ivanka has been pictured at in recent months. After not being seen around her father for months, she attended the 2024 Republican National Convention, taking a picture with her father as he signed his official nomination paperwork. That was days after an assassin tried to take Donald's life. 'Thank you for your love and prayers for my father and for the other victims of today's senseless violence in Butler, Pennsylvania,' Ivanka wrote on social media shortly after the shooting. 'I am grateful to the Secret Service and all the other law enforcement officers for their quick and decisive actions today. I continue to pray for our country,' she added. 'I love you Dad, today and always.' Days later, Ivanka was on stage with her father in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention. While not appearing on the campaign trail with her dad, Ivanka was around him on Election Day. She was spotted at Mar-a-Lago and attended the Election Night party. Later, she was on stage with her father and the rest of her family as the Republican nominee declared victory over then-vice president Kamala Harris. Ivanka didn't speak to the crowd or the press that night, but could be seen smiling as her father reveled about returning to the White House. In January, Ivanka and Kushner also attended Donald's inauguration and the subsequent celebration events in January. She wore a green dress and hat to see her father be sworn in again on Inauguration Day. Later, she and her husband were alongside her father, and new president, at the Liberty Inaugural Ball. A month later, Ivanka wasn't with her dad in the nation's capital. Instead, she was by his side as he became the first sitting president to attend the Super Bowl. She had a prime seat at her father's right hand as the family watched the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs. Weeks after that, she was back in his obit. This time for the address to Congress. Despite Ivanka calling the presidency the 'world's loneliest position,' she has been spotted by his side at several points in the last few months. While first saying she plans to support her father through non-political activities, she has been at some high-profile political moments. The Independent has contacted the Trump Organization for comment about her appearances. In January – well before she was spotted in his orbit – Ivanka discussed the difference from her first term and her hopes for her role in the second - even if she seemingly is more around than planned. 'We were like the Pioneers, nobody really knew what to do with him as a political figure,' Ivanka told the January podcast about her father's first term. 'Now there are so many people around. I think about in this moment how I can also support him because I know what the job is, like in a very personal way, having been by his side for four years.' 'I think I'm most looking forward to just being able to show up for him as a daughter and be there for him to take his mind off things, to watch a movie with him, or watch a sports game,' she added. 'To know that he can be with me, and be himself and just relax and for me to be able to provide that for him in a very loving way as his daughter.'
The Independent
08-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Ivanka Trump, who vowed to stay away from politics, is making a lot of appearances at Dad's events
Over the last couple of years, Ivanka Trump has bluntly stated she 'hates' politics and expressed little interest in resuming public life near Washington, D.C. 'I love my father very much. This time around I am choosing to prioritize my young children and the private life we are creating as a family. I do not plan to be involved in politics,' she stated in a 2022 social media post. Earlier this year, as her father transitioned back to the White House, the first daughter reiterated those feelings. 'I love policy and impact. I hate politics and unfortunately, the two are not separable,' Ivanka told The Skinny Confidential Him & Her podcast in January. 'There's a darkness in that world that I don't really want to welcome into mine.' For someone who hates the 'darkness in that world,' Ivanka sure has enjoyed the spotlight near her father and at his events in recent months. The Republican National Convention, Election Night and the recent Joint Address to Congress are three examples of her recent appearances near her father- despite her resentment of politics. The most recent appearance was this week at her father's joint congressional address alongside her husband, Jared Kushner. The 43-year-old sat in the president's box to watch the address, alongside First Lady Melania Trump and her siblings Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump and Tiffany Trump. Other guests in the box included Elon Musk, Second Lady Usha Vance and the family of Corey Comperatore, a firefighter killed by would-be assassin Thomas Crooks at Trump's July campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania last year. Notably absent was Barron Trump, the president's youngest son. The 18-year-old New York University skipped the address because he had classes scheduled this week, The Daily Mail reported. Ivanka shared an Instagram post chronicling her attendance with the caption, '48 hours in DC!' Hours later, she shared another post highlighting the outfit she wore to the address designed by Oscar de la Renta. 'Thank you, @oscardelarenta, for the exquisite navy blue tweed suit with orchid appliqués,' she wrote. 'Hair, makeup + photos by my dear friend @alexarodulfo (apparently I'm an ambi-turner … Serving right angles only in full Zoolander style).' But, her father's Congressional address is not the only political event that Ivanka has been pictured at in recent months. After not being seen around her father for months, she attended the 2024 Republican National Convention, taking a picture with her father as he signed his official nomination paperwork. That was days after an assassin tried to take Donald's life. 'Thank you for your love and prayers for my father and for the other victims of today's senseless violence in Butler, Pennsylvania,' Ivanka wrote on social media shortly after the shooting. 'I am grateful to the Secret Service and all the other law enforcement officers for their quick and decisive actions today. I continue to pray for our country,' she added. 'I love you Dad, today and always.' Days later, Ivanka was on stage with her father in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention. While not appearing on the campaign trail with her dad, Ivanka was around him on Election Day. She was spotted at Mar-a-Lago and attended the Election Night party. Later, she was on stage with her father and the rest of her family as the Republican nominee declared victory over then-vice president Kamala Harris. Ivanka didn't speak to the crowd or the press that night, but could be seen smiling as her father reveled about returning to the White House. In January, Ivanka and Kushner also attended Donald's inauguration and the subsequent celebration events in January. She wore a green dress and hat to see her father be sworn in again on Inauguration Day. Later, she and her husband were alongside her father, and new president, at the Liberty Inaugural Ball. A month later, Ivanka wasn't with her dad in the nation's capital. Instead, she was by his side as he became the first sitting president to attend the Super Bowl. She had a prime seat at her father's right hand as the family watched the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs. Weeks after that, she was back in his obit. This time for the address to Congress. Despite Ivanka calling the presidency the 'world's loneliest position,' she has been spotted by his side at several points in the last few months. While first saying she plans to support her father through non-political activities, she has been at some high-profile political moments. The Independent has contacted the Trump Organization for comment about her appearances. In January – well before she was spotted in his orbit – Ivanka discussed the difference from her first term and her hopes for her role in the second - even if she seemingly is more around than planned. 'We were like the Pioneers, nobody really knew what to do with him as a political figure,' Ivanka told the January podcast about her father's first term. 'Now there are so many people around. I think about in this moment how I can also support him because I know what the job is, like in a very personal way, having been by his side for four years.' 'I think I'm most looking forward to just being able to show up for him as a daughter and be there for him to take his mind off things, to watch a movie with him, or watch a sports game,' she added. 'To know that he can be with me, and be himself and just relax and for me to be able to provide that for him in a very loving way as his daughter.'
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
A CT veteran ‘got thrown out' of an IRS job on Trump orders. A lawmaker wants the nation to meet him
A Connecticut veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps was five days away from securing permanent employment status at the Internal Revenue Service when he became one of thousands fired from his department on Feb. 20 as a result of President Trump's orders. The firing has been devastating for Gabriel D'Alatri, 30, and his family. D'Alatri will be given a platform to tell his story as he will be U.S. Rep. Joseph Courtney's guest at President Trump's Joint Address to Congress on Tuesday. D'Alatri job was one of thousands of IRS probationary workers laid off on Feb. 20 as part of Trump's executive order of Feb. 11, 'Implementing The President's 'Department of Government Efficiency' Workforce Optimization Initiative.' D'Alatri, a disabled Marine veteran and a new father, was a facilities management consultant at the IRS. 'It was tough,' D'Alatri said, of when he learned he was fired. 'I went to work that week thinking I wasn't going to be affected by the layoffs. I had gotten confirmation by my boss that I wasn't on a probation list because I was a veteran…but I got thrown out the door a couple of hours later. My boss called me the night before the 20th that I was on the second list and that I had to go in Thursday morning the 20th and hand everything in.' D'Alatri said he had an hour to hand everything in but stayed longer to obtain his termination letter. 'I still haven't gotten my SF-8, which is your official termination letter from the federal government,' D'Alatri said. 'It was kind of a quick process, and the emotions didn't set in until the day after. I was just so concerned getting my equipment back in and not getting in trouble for that and getting them the proper documentation. Luckily, me staying around an extra 10 minutes allowed me to get my termination letter. I have everything I need to fight this.' D'Alatri joined the Marines shortly out of high school. His older brother Giulio had previously enrolled in the Marines. D'Alatri said they both felt a duty to serve the country. 'This country has given so much to my family. They had to go through living in poverty and it was tough for my family,' D'Alatri said. 'We felt like we were in the position to give the country something. We love our country. We were 9-11 kids in a sense. We were young when that happened. That stuck home with us. We always wanted to serve our country. We have always been big history guys.' During his service, D'Alatri was promoted to lance corporal after receiving top marks at the Marine Corps Motor Transportation School at Fort Leonard Wood. 'I felt no nerves about joining the Marine Corps. I met some great friends there,' D'Alatri said. 'A well-run Marine Corps means your country is going to be safe. I've always been a firm believer in that.' The brothers were both medically discharged following injuries during their tours of duty. After the military, D'Alatri used his G.I. Bill to attend UConn. After graduation, he worked in the private sector before accepting a job at the IRS. 'But it didn't fulfill me like it did in the Marine Corps that's why I decided to go into the federal civilian workforce, and I stand strong for it, and I think it's a key component to our country,' D'Alatri said. In February 2024, he started working with the IRS as a project manager providing support to IRS facilities across New England. D'Alatri was scheduled to be promoted to a permanent employee on Feb. 25 but was laid off five days short of that date. The job loss added stress to a growing young family. D'Alatri and his wife, Sarah, have a six-month-old daughter Carmella. 'Luckily, my wife is a registered dental hygienist and is able to work and provide income for the family as well. It's not as crippling as it could be, but it still is crippling. She just had a baby six months ago and it wasn't in our plans to send her back to work so quickly,' he said. 'We wanted to let her heal from the whole ordeal of childbirth and let her chill out for a couple of months. It's going to be cut short if I can't get my job back. I'm hoping I do.' 'It was a big hit the family. We were planning on spending a lot of money in the economy getting a new house and a new SUV to keep the baby safe. It's a lot of money that was going to go into the economy that is no longer going into the economy,' he said. Courtney said D'Alatri is one of nearly 6,000 veterans who have been a part of the recent purge of the federal workforce and said he is working to ty to reinstate the workers. Courtney said his office his office has been getting waves of calls from constitutes with high anxiety with the cuts being made by DOGE but said D'Alatri's call stood out as a 'terrible egregious example of how the DOGE process is so feckless and mindless.' 'He was days from becoming a permanent employee,' Courtney said. 'He had been recruited to the government from a veteran's program. He had perfect performance scores and was terminated because of this arbitrary process that identifies probationary employees as somehow nonessential or nonperforming. It was flatly inaccurate.' Courtney said he gets one ticket for a guest to bring to the speech and thought the exposure would help D'Alatri in his effort to try to get his job back. 'I thought this would also put a spotlight on that there is just way too much of this going on,' Courtney said. 'The stories about nuclear security employees who were completely dismissed shows that what is going on is dangerous,' the lawmaker said. 'It's also harmful for a guy like Gabe who is basically setting up facilities to help taxpayers get free help for their filing and keeping the agency functioning, which is what his job was.' Courtney said in the past the Trump Administration has backtracked when the 'ridiculousness of their actions is exposed in the public domain.' 'That's something we want to help Gabe with,' Courtney said. 'He's working with his union about a grievance process and exploring other legal options that could be available…Again, there has been instances where the administration has had to retreat in terms of some of these firings. There are also other options that leader (U.S. Rep.) Hakeem Jeffries is looking at. We are coming up to a government shutdown on March 14 and unfortunately there is not enough negotiating going on with the two sides to use that as a vehicle to help people like Gabe.' 'When Gabe comes to Washington there's going to be an opportunity to hopefully interact with staff in D.C. to tell his story as well as with the media,' Courtney said. Courtney is a co-sponsor of the Protect Veteran Jobs Act, which would require any veteran who was removed or otherwise dismissed from civil service after January 20, 2025, to be eligible to get their job back. Courtney also was among the more than 100 lawmakers that sent a letter to rebuke Elon Musk's 'Five Things' email. Courtney also sent a letter addressing buyout offers for federal workers in eastern Connecticut in support of their work and for them to scrutinize the offer. He is also a co-sponsor of the Saving the Civil Service Act to protect federal employees from political attacks. 'We get calls from federal employees into the office on high anxiety and high alert because they know what they know what is happening in the system and Gabe is living and breathing proof of that,' Courtney said. D'Alatri said he's eager to share his story with whomever will listen. 'This is affecting me personally and this is a personal goal for me to get my job back or to find other employment within the government or state government or something like that,' D'Alatri said. 'I'm getting a platform to go to D.C. and speak about how many veterans are in our federal workforce. It's about one third of the federal workforce, 660,000 veterans employed through our federal workforce. Our Vvce president (JD Vance) is a Marine Corps veteran like myself. He was stationed in the same air station that I was stationed. I would like to think in my head that they are not OK with this happening.' 'I'm hoping the administration can reverse this as fast as they put it on,' he added. 'Clearly, they were on a fast pace to put these executive orders in, who is to say they can't put in another executive order to rehire all of the veterans. I know there is a bill that the congressman (Courtney) supports to rehire veterans. I'm in full support of that and I'm thankful the congressman is bringing me down to D.C. with him and I'm going to hopefully get my voice heard by everybody.' D'Alatri said he is going to Washington D.C. as a non-partisan person that will talk to anyone from any party about his story. 'In my mind, veterans are non-partisan issue,' D'Alatri said. 'I don't think you want to be tagged with any political party. I'm going down to be a mediator between the two parties. I'm willing to do that and get the word out that nobody should be OK with this. This should be corrected immediately. I'm thankful to the congressman for this opportunity and I will never forget this.'
