Deputy FBI Director and former MAGA podcaster Dan Bongino announced on Wednesday that he plans to leave the administration in January, which came moments after President Donald Trump praised him for his work.
"I will be leaving my position with the FBI in January," Bongino said in a post on X. "I want to thank President Trump, AG Bondi, and Director Patel for the opportunity to serve with purpose. Most importantly, I want to thank you, my fellow Americans, for the privilege to serve you."
His comments happened after Trump said during a press conference at Joint Base Andrews that Bongino was "doing a great job" in his role.
"I think he wants to go back to his show," Trump said.
Before joining the administration, Bongino hosted a right-wing podcast and radio show called "The Dan Bongino Show," where he was often one of Trump's fiercest supporters.
His tenure in the Trump administration has been marred by criticism over the FBI's handling of high-profile cases like the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and the mass shooting at Brown University that left two students dead and injured nine others.
A columnist revealed on Wednesday that President Donald Trump has used one of his social media accounts to break a core promise to his base.
David Rothkopf, a columnist for The Daily Beast, argued in a new column that Trump is backtracking on his promise to MAGA that he would not start any new wars. Rothkopf mentioned the administration's strikes against alleged drug boats in international waters and his threatening Truth Social post against Nicolas Maduro's regime in Venezuela as evidence of Trump's escalating steps toward war.
Trump's recent Truth Social post labeled Venezuela's government as a "FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION," and added that the president had directed the military to "Oil, Land and other Assets" that were "stolen" from the U.S.
"Wasn’t one of the reasons Trump’s base elected him was so there would be no more American wars? Do you think they’ll notice?" Rothkopf asked.
"This might all seem disturbing, but not so relevant to Americans who are more concerned with paying for groceries, losing their jobs or going bankrupt trying to pay for their healthcare, amid widely-spreading epidemics, because a heroin addict with a brain worm and no grasp of science is now in charge of medicine in the U.S. And of course, that makes good sense," Rothkopf added.
"Those are all really important things to be concerned by," he continued. "It should also go without saying that trying to distract the country from the disastrous consequences of these disastrous Trump policies is the whole reason we’re wagging this dog south of the border anyway."
A recent renovation at the White House caused quite a stir on Wednesday.
President Donald Trump recently installed a "Walk of Fame" featuring photographs of former presidents, which lines the walkway from the West Wing to the White House. On Wednesday, the administration installed plaques with information about each president, some of which were personally written by Trump, CNN's Kit Maher reported.
One of the plaques describes former President Joe Biden as "by far, the worst President." Former President Barack Obama's plaque says he was "one of the most divisive political figures in American History" and the creator of the "Russia, Russia, Russia hoax," MS NOW's Vaughn Hillyard reported.
Photos of the plaques spread online, generating significant backlash for the Trump White House.
"Appalling. Embarrassing. Juvenile. Something very wrong here," MS NOW national security analyst Barry McCaffrey posted on X.
"They’ve turned the ‘people’s house’ into authoritarian partisan tacky propaganda," Mehdi Hasan, founder of Zeteo News, posted on X. "Imagine if Obama had… oh forget it."
"Trump continues to focus on literally everything BUT making the lives of everyday Americans better, at a time they're feeling pain the most," former Pentagon spokesperson Chris Meagher posted on X.
"God he’s just a walking embarrassment," sports writer Matt Verderam posted on X. "It’s not even a conservative/liberal thing. Its an American thing."
President Donald Trump will announce "a war is coming" between the U.S. and Venezuela in his Wednesday night speech, according to right-wing broadcaster Tucker Carlson.
Carlson made the remarks on Wednesday during an interview with former Judge Andrew Napolitano. Both men are former Fox News employees.
"Is Trump going to start a war in Venezuela?" Napolitano wondered.
"I don't know," Carlson replied. "I don't know the answer. I've certainly been on the phone a lot about it. I have no power. I'm a podcaster, but I'm very interested. And so here's what I know so far, which is that members of Congress were briefed yesterday, that a war is coming, and it'll be announced in the address to the nation tonight at 9 o'clock by the president."
"Who knows, by the way, if that will actually happen. I don't know. And I never want to overstate what I know, which is pretty limited in general. But a member of Congress told me that this morning."
"Everybody Loves Raymond" actor Brad Garrett ripped President Donald Trump as a "malignant narcissist" during a CNN interview on Wednesday afternoon.
Garrett, who played Ray Romano's brother Robert Barone in the long-running sitcom, was responding to FCC Chair Brendan Carr's testimony during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing and questioned Carr's comments about threatening to pull late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel's show after the host joked about Trump's response to MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk's killing.
"Well, I think the question is, did Brendan do it hard or easy? I'm not sure what's going on. I'm just hoping we're not back to black and white movies only," Garrett said. "But I'll tell you what I think this is all about, the hearings and with the FCC, we have a malignant narcissist sitting in the White House. And if people don't do his bidding all through the government, you know, it's going to be hell to pay."
Garrett described why Jimmy Kimmel's response has been particularly important.
"I love how Jimmy Kimmel is doubling down in his monologues and how Stephen Colbert are still doing what they do best. Jon Stewart. This is an important time for all artists to stand up," he added. "And we're used to doing things hard because it's a difficult industry. So, I'm excited to. Jimmy's going strong, and that ABC extended his contract. All the things that should be happening, you know?"
"I think it's as scary as McCarthy times. I mean, what's the difference? The difference is you have McCarthy running the White House, and you know, Trump's got a paper-thin ego," he said. "And you know, I think we know a lot about bullies. At the end of the day, deep down, they're not that brave. And they're anything but courageous."
MAGA conspiracy theorist Candace Owens came out of her meeting with Erika Kirk with questions about FBI Director Kash Patel.
Following the meeting with the wife of the slain Turning Point USA founder, Owens said she would focus on Patel during her Wednesday show.
"I feel like I’m not a good person to call a liar because it only further commits me to discovering the truth," Owens wrote in a post on X. "Today on the show— we have been given never before seen photos of Charlie’s SUV after the assassination, plus shocking information that the Feds never impounded the vehicle for evidence. You’ll never guess where that vehicle is today."
"We also will be breaking the story of how exactly the non-smoking gun was discovered. (Hint: the Feds were involved again). Plus we can confirm unequivocally that we were lied to about the steel neck," she added. "All of this to say— we need to start asking a lot more questions about Kash Patel."
President Donald Trump threatened NBC's broadcast license days after the network aired an interview with Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA).
"Raphael Warnock was on Meet the Fake Press with a one sided and very biased Kristen Welker as the Host(ess!)" Trump ranted on Wednesday. "Warnock spent the entire show using Religion to try and divide the Country! If a Republican, in particular ME, made those statements, it would be FRONT PAGE NEWS."
"He ended by saying that he was going to his Church to preach now, and while I think that's fine, I do say, 'What ever happened to separation of Church and State?' That would be the first thing they would use against us but, actually, it's something that never much bothered me," he continued. "Anyway, Warnock is a LIGHTWEIGHT whose wife correctly states that he tried to run her over with a car. Fortunately, she was able to get out of the way, and only almost lost her foot. Warnock is a bad guy, and NBC News, which is second only to ABC Fake News for being the worst, should be ashamed of themselves in allowing garbage "interviews" with untalented and uncaring people to take place."
Trump then suggested that the Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, should investigate NBC.
"The Public airwaves, which these Networks are using at no charge, should not be allowed to get away with this any longer!" he wrote. "They should be properly licensed, and pay significant amounts of money for using this very valuable Public space."
The president's remarks came just hours after FCC Chair Brendan Carr told a Senate committee that he had the power to shut down broadcast networks for satirical speech.
CNN anchor Boris Sanchez cornered Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA) in a fiery back-and-forth live interview on Wednesday over claims dropped in the explosive Vanity Fair article exposing the inner workings of the Trump administration.
Sanchez pressed Cline to respond to his questions as the conversation became tense.
"I didn't hear you answer the actual substance of the question, but nevertheless, Congressman, I do wonder what you make of what we heard from the White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles acknowledging to Vanity Fair that Trump doesn't wake up thinking about retribution, but when there's an opportunity, he will go for it," Sanchez said.
"Do you think Republicans run the risk of coming across as though they're simply trying to facilitate the president getting his version of payback?" Sanchez asked.
Cline responded and shifted the conversation.
"The Judiciary Committee is conducting its constitutional duty of oversight over the Department of Justice," Cline said. "Not only do I sit on the Judiciary, sit on the Appropriations Subcommittee on the Judiciary. So we have an obligation to follow the taxpayer dollars. It was over $50 million spent on this targeted weaponization against President Trump, against members of Congress and against conservatives. And we're going to find out the facts and ensure accountability follows."
The two discussed expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies, and the conversation turned back to the revealing Vanity Fair story featuring Wiles and major revelations about Trump's inner circle shared in the article — including the administration's viewpoint on Venezuela and escalating military operations in the Caribbean, where multiple alleged drug boats have been struck.
"One final question, Congressman. Going back to Susie Wiles, specifically her comments on Venezuela, she says that the president wants to keep on blowing up boats until Nicolás Maduro cries, uncle," Sanchez said. "Now the president is announcing this blockade of sanctioned oil tankers in Venezuelan waters. At what point does President Trump need the authority of Congress to help him carry out these actions? Shouldn't lawmakers on Capitol Hill have a say over these matters?"
Cline appeared to approve of the Trump administration's actions without Congressional input.
"We are conducting oversight. We had the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense in front of all members of the House and Senate yesterday, explaining in a confidential briefing the legal justification for these strikes. It is sound. It is constitutional, and it is warranted, given Maduro's behavior, the trafficking that is going on that is killing Americans each and every day," Cline said.
But Sanchez wasn't fully satisfied with that answer.
"You're talking about the boat strikes here. Susie Wiles is essentially talking about regime change. Is that not something that should go through Congress?" Sanchez pressed again.
Cline claimed that he had not read Wiles' statements.
"I haven't read this Vanity Fair article you're speaking of, but I do know that Congress will continue to assert its oversight role and make sure that the president's actions and these strikes are constitutional and within the scope and letter of the law," Cline said.
Sanchez encouraged him to read the article, saying, "It's a long read, but I bet it's worth your time."
First Lady Melania Trump made the last-minute decision to skip a solemn dignified transfer ceremony to honor two U.S. service members killed in action in Syria.
President Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Chief of Staff of the Army General Randy George attended the ceremony for the Iowa soldiers on Wednesday.
Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, were killed in the Syrian desert on Saturday.
"First Lady Melania Trump was scheduled to join them, but a White House official said she could no longer attend," CBS News reported.
The ceremony took place on the day the first lady released a trailer for her film "MELANIA."
Bulwark editor Jonathan Last delivered scathing criticism of President Donald Trump on Wednesday after the president dropped his plan to escalate military pressure on Venezuela in a Truth Social post rant.
Last described in his Substack how White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles' revealing Vanity Fair interview, paired with Trump's most recent comments, laid the groundwork for a potential military offensive — and what the motives actually are behind them — "that Trump is seeking regime change in Venezuela."
Trump wrote this on Truth Social late Tuesday:
"Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America. It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before — Until such time as they return to the United States of America all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us."
Last slammed Trump for the comments.
"This is a suboptimal way to conduct foreign policy. It is erratic, unfocused, vague, and ultimately dangerous—both to America’s short-term and long-term interests," he wrote. "Pick whatever foreign policy disaster you’d like from American history—Bay of Pigs; Iran-Contra; Mission: Accomplished. The thinking behind Trump’s Venezuela adventure is worse."
"In fact, I’d go so far as to say that Trump’s ultimatum last night is the single stupidest and most irresponsible presidential statement in the 249-year history of American foreign policy. I defy you to find something—anything—dumber," Last wrote.
Last argued that Nicolás Maduro is no saint or even "good guy."
"Maduro is a b-------," he wrote. "A corrupt, authoritarian gangster who has oppressed the Venezuelan people for years."
Trump, who has spent the last few months striking alleged drug boats in the area and claimed the move is to combat drug trafficking, has signaled plans to elevate the conflict.
Wiles, in one of the 11 interviews conducted with Vanity Fair journalist Christopher Whipple, described Trump's goal:
“He wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle. And people way smarter than me on that say that he will," she said.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) accused President Donald Trump of following former President George W. Bush's playbook by lying to the country to start a war.
"The framers understood a simple truth. To the extent that war-making power devolves to one person, liberty dissolves," Massie said during a Wednesday speech on the House floor. "If the president believes military action against Venezuela is justified and needed, he should make the case, and Congress should vote before American lives and treasure are spent on regime change in South America."
"Do we truly believe that Nicholas Maduro will be replaced by a modern-day George Washington? How did that work out? In Cuba, Libya, Iraq, or Syria?" he continued. "Previous presidents told us to go to war over WMDs, weapons of mass destruction, that did not exist. Now it's the same playbook, except we're told that drugs are the WMDs."
"If it were about drugs, we'd bomb Mexico or China or Colombia. And the president would not have pardoned Juan Orlando Hernandez. This is about oil and regime change. "
Earlier this week, Trump officially designated "fentanyl and its core precursor chemical as weapons of mass destruction (WMD)."
The FCC changed its website during a heated hearing with FCC chair Brendan Carr.
Carr was responding to questions from lawmakers about whether the agency was independent.
Carr told lawmakers "the FCC is not an independent agency" — within minutes, the FCC had scrubbed the word "independent" from its website, CNN reported.
CNN media analyst Sara Fischer said it only took the agency 25 minutes.
"So clearly they have made a decision to change their talking points around how they describe this agency," Fischer said.
CNN host Dana Bash was surprised by the information, saying "Wow."
"I should note it comes in a broader context of the Supreme Court basically saying they intend to allow the president to fire FTC commissioners," she added. "Broadly speaking, agencies that were once considered independent don't feel independent anymore."
Fischer had actually screenshot the website, saying "I knew something like this was going to happen and it did."
Carr signaled that President Donald Trump had the power to fire whoever he wants, a major question that the Supreme Court will decide that could overturn a 90-year-old decision to protect heads of federal independent agencies from firing by the president.
"And one of the things that the justices were talking about in the questioning was whether independent agencies should be independent. But, I mean, it does feel like something out of 1984 for the documents of the government to change after someone says it. It's really it's a stunning thing in itself," CNN reporter Edward-Isaac Dovere said.
Carr was scolded by Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) after the agency boss threatened to pull comedian Jimmy Kimmel off air over a joke he made following MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk's death. Carr had effectively threatened to pull ABC's broadcast license if the network did not take Kimmel off the air.
A Republican lawmaker admitted Wednesday that MAGA is splintering over President Donald Trump and his policies.
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) told CNN's Wolf Blitzer that even with the friction among lawmakers over the president, he still thinks Trump has power in the Republican party and 2026 midterm elections — but he has seen division growing among conservatives.
"Well, I think President Trump still has tremendous power in Republican primaries. There's no question about that," McCaul said.
He pointed to Trump's former ally who has now publicly spoken out against him, and the feud between them now.
"I do find this dialog and this conversion, if you will, Marjorie Taylor Greene, talking about how we need to tone down the rhetoric when she's been one that's thrown a lot of that out, has been very fascinating to watch," he added.
Republicans have hope that Trump will help bring voters to support them in midterms, McCaul explained, despite the fissure.
"And what you're seeing is now sort of a break within MAGA between Marjorie Taylor Greene and the MAGA crowd, if you will, and maybe a division within MAGA itself. I don't know but to say that President Trump has no power in the midterm elections, I can tell you, most Republicans desperately want his support in their primaries because the voters are still in the Republican primaries. Trump is still a very popular," McCaul said.
