According to the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, federallaw requires them — as the state Medicaid administrator — to provide voter registration information to every new filer for assistance, including noncitizens. The agency says it is bound by the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) to provide voter registration services — including registration forms.
“SCDHHS does not believe the state Medicaid agency should have a role in voter registration,” Jeff Leieritz, a spokesman for the state agency, said in a statement. He added: “However, absent the legal authority to make this change, SCDHHS remains required by federal law to provide voter registration application forms with each Medicaid application.”
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In late April, a noncitizen living in SouthCarolinanotified State Representative Adam Morgan that she had received voter registration information and forms when she applied for public assistance. The South Carolina lawmaker said the woman was unsure if she should fill them out and sought answers from a friend who informed her she could not vote as a noncitizen. When the woman tried to return the forms to the agency, they sent her more voter information.
In addition to the NVRA requirements, Executive Order 14019 — signed by JoeBiden in 2021 — requires federal agencies to prioritize voter registration and voter turnout strategies. The Biden government order has likely caused additional downward pressure on state agencies that manage federal programs to engage in the registration effort.
The South Carolina Election Commission has said they’re investigating the matter of noncitizens receiving voter registration information. “The SEC will not allow fraudulent voter registration to happen on our watch,” the commission’s executive director, Howie Knapp, said. In neighboring North Carolina, federal prosecutors have charged 37 noncitizens with voting in U.S. elections as far back as 1996.
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❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Virginia Fraternal Order of Police (VFOP) has condemned Democrat Attorney General candidate Jay Jones for violent text messages—including fantasies about killing children and police—and called for his withdrawal from the race.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jay Jones, Virginia Fraternal Order of Police, former Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert, and Republican Delegate Carrie Coyner.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: Text messages sent in 2022; with the messages resurfacing last week.
💬KEY QUOTE: “It is time you hold yourself accountable for these actions and withdraw from the Attorney General race immediately.” – Virginia Fraternal Order of Police
🎯IMPACT: Despite the condemnation, major Democrats have not withdrawn their endorsements of Jones.
IN FULL
The Virginia Fraternal Order of Police (VFOP) has publicly condemned Democrat Attorney General candidate Jay Jones after violent text messages sent by him in 2022 came to light. In the texts, Jones called for the death of former Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert, fantasized about killing Gilbert’s children, and wished death on law enforcement. The VFOP has called for Jones to withdraw from the race.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the VFOP wrote, “The Virginia Fraternal Order of Police is aware of the recent text message scandal involving you, the Democrat candidate for Attorney General. While this incident may have occurred in 2022, this conduct has no place in our society or democracy, especially from an elected official who is running to be the top prosecutor in Virginia. The men and women of the Virginia Fraternal Order unequivocally condemn these violent text messages sent by you about a political opponent and his family.”
The controversy stems from texts sent by Jones to Republican Delegate Carrie Coyner in 2022, where he remarked, “Three people, two bullets. Gilbert, hitler and pol pot. Gilbert gets two bullets to the head.” Coyner reportedly responded, “Jay Please stop.” Jones later called Coyner and allegedly expressed a desire for Gilbert’s children to die to influence policy decisions.
In recounting the incident, Coyner detailed a heated discussion with Jones about qualified immunity for police officers: “I said, ‘I believe that people will get killed. Police officers will get killed.’ And he said, ‘Well, maybe if a few of them died, that they would move on, not shooting people, not killing people.’ And I said, ‘that’s insane.’ But he firmly believed that if you removed qualified immunity, that police officers would act differently, and I firmly believe that it would not result in good public policy, and it would put police officers and the public’s lives at risk if they have to second-guess themselves on a decision they’re making in a moment where someone is doing something violent.”
Despite the VFOP’s condemnation, other major Democratic candidates in the state, including gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger, have continued to support Jones, with no significant withdrawals of endorsements.
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❓WHAT HAPPENED: The European Commission proposed a 50 percent tariff on steel imports exceeding a reduced annual quota to protect its steel industry.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: European Commissioner for Industry Stéphane Séjourné, European Union (EU) trade chief Maroš Šefčovič, and trade association Eurofer.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: Proposal announced on Tuesday; measures set to take effect after June 2026 if approved.
💬KEY QUOTE: “To save our steelworks & our European jobs: we halve our quota of steel imported from abroad; we double the customs duties (from 25% to 50%),” wrote Stéphane Séjourné.
🎯IMPACT: Aims to protect the EU’s steel industry from global competition, including low-cost exports from China and India, while addressing job losses and production declines.
IN FULL
The European Commission has proposed a 50 percent tariff on steel imports exceeding a reduced annual quota, aiming to bolster the European Union’s (EU) struggling steel industry. The current quota of nearly 40 million tonnes faces a 25 percent duty on imports above the limit, but this would double under the new proposal.
European Commissioner for Industry Stéphane Séjourné announced the measures on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “To save our steelworks & our European jobs: we halve our quota of steel imported from abroad; we double the customs duties (from 25% to 50%). This is the reindustrialisation of Europe.”
The EU steel industry has faced significant challenges, including high energy costs and competition from low-cost exports from nations like China and India. The bloc’s share of global steel production has fallen from 9 percent to 7 percent since 2014, with 100,000 jobs lost in the sector over the past 15 years, according to Eurofer.
EU trade chief Maroš Šefčovič highlighted the decline, stating, “We are the only region in the world where [steel] production is actually decreasing.” The proposal also comes amid concerns over U.S. President Donald J.Trump’s imposition of a 50 percent tariff on U.S. steel imports, which risks redirecting Chinese and Indian steel exports toward Europe.
If approved, the measures would take effect after the bloc’s current steel sector safeguards expire in June 2026. Brussels is also seeking closer cooperation with the Trump White House to counteract overcapacity in Chinese steel exports, which are expected to reach a record 120 million tonnes this year.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump mentioned the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act to restore order in Democrat-run cities, especially if courts or local officials delay his plans.
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👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, anti-ICE rioters in Chicago and Portland, and the National Guard.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The discussion took place on Monday in the Oval Office and during a televised interview.
💬KEY QUOTE: “If I had to enact it, I’d do that. If people were being killed and courts were holding us up or governors or mayors were holding us up, sure, I’d do that.” – President Trump
🎯IMPACT: The invocation of the Insurrection Act could circumvent efforts by Democrat lawmakers and federal courts aimed at hampering the protection of federal property and agents targeted by violent far-left rioters.
IN FULL
President Donald J. Trump has indicated he might consider invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807, a law that allows the military to engage in civilian law enforcement under specific conditions. The move comes in response to continued and unprecedented interference by federal courts and local officials aimed at hindering his deployment of the National Guard to protect federal property and immigration enforcement agents.
While speaking to reporters in the Oval Office late Monday, Trump stated, “I’d do it if it was necessary. So far it hasn’t been necessary. But we have an Insurrection Act for a reason.” The America First leader emphasized the need to ensure the safety of cities and prevent loss of life, saying, “If I had to enact it, I’d do that. If people were being killed and courts were holding us up or governors or mayors were holding us up, sure, I’d do that. I mean, I want to make sure that people aren’t killed. We have to make sure that our cities are safe.”
Trump’s comments came amid his efforts to address crime in cities run by Democrats, with Portland, Oregon, being a current focal point. A federal judge recently blocked the deployment of federalized National Guard troops in Portland, though the Trump White House is moving to appeal the ruling.
Later on Monday, during a television interview, President Trump doubled down on the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act. “If we don’t have to use it, I wouldn’t use it,” he said, adding, “If you take a look at what’s been going on in Portland, it’s been going on for a long time, and that’s insurrection. I mean, that’s pure insurrection.”
❓WHAT HAPPENED: A draft White House memo argues that federal workers furloughed during the current shutdown are not automatically entitled to back pay, citing a reinterpretation of the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The White House, federal workers, Senate Democrats, labor attorney Nekeisha Campbell, and Sam Berger from the Center for Policy and Budget Priorities.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: Amid the ongoing federal government shutdown, as described in a memo reported by Axios.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Does this law cover all these furloughed employees automatically? The conventional wisdom is: Yes, it does. Our view is: No, it doesn’t.” – Senior White House official
🎯IMPACT: Up to 750,000 federal workers could be affected by this reinterpretation, with critics asserting the move is legally baseless and designed to pressure Senate Democrats.
IN FULL
A draft memo circulated by the Trump White House contends that federal workers furloughed during the current shutdown may not be automatically entitled to back pay. The administration claims that the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 (GEFTA), amended in January 2019—which seemingly guarantees backpay even without a congressional appropriation—has been “misconstrued” or is “deficient.”
The draft memo challenges the conventional understanding of GEFTA, which has long been interpreted as guaranteeing back pay after shutdowns. According to a senior White House official, “Does this law cover all these furloughed employees automatically? The conventional wisdom is: Yes, it does. Our view is: No, it doesn’t.”
The argument hinges on amended language specifying that workers are compensated “subject to the enactment of appropriations Acts ending the lapse.” The administration interprets this as requiring explicit Congressional approval for back pay.
However, some have denounced this interpretation. Labor attorney Nekeisha Campbell stated, “There is no legal authority to support that interpretation of the statute.” Similarly, Sam Berger of the left-wing Center for Policy and Budget Priorities (CPBP) described the amendment as a recognition of the appropriations process, not a restriction on back pay.
With up to 750,000 federal workers affected, one senior official denied that the interpretation was simply a tactic to pressure Senate Democrats. Nearly a week ago, Democrat lawmakers in the Senate, along with Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), voted down a clean continuing resolution passed by the House of Representatives, kicking off the government shutdown.
Subsequently, Senate Democrats, along with Sen. Paul, have voted down four other attempts to reopen the government.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: Twenty Conservative (Tory) Party councillors have defected to join Nigel Farage’s Reform Party, coinciding with the Conservative Party’s annual conference in Manchester, England.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Defectors from various municipal governments, Nigel Farage, the Reform Party, and Conservative leader Olukemi “Kemi” Badenoch.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: The defections were announced on Tuesday, ahead of the Conservative conference finale in Manchester.
💬KEY QUOTE: “The Conservative Party is dead and can no longer serve as an effective Opposition.” – Nigel Farage
🎯IMPACT: The defections bolster Reform’s presence in local councils, while raising questions about the Conservative Party’s unity and viability ahead of the next general election, which must be held by 2029.
IN FULL
Twenty municipal government councillors have defected from the Conservative (Tory) Party to join Nigel Farage’s Reform Party, as the Conservatives are holding their annual conference in Manchester, England. The defections seriously undermine the Conservatives’ new leader, Nigeria-raised Olukemi “Kemi” Badenoch, ahead of the Conservative Party conference’s final day, where she is scheduled to give the closing speech.
Farage celebrated the move, declaring, “The Conservative Party is dead and can no longer serve as an effective Opposition.” The councillors who switched represent a broad spread of municipal governments, including South Kesteven, Hertsmere, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, the East Riding of Yorkshire, and others.
In a Radio interview, Badenoch stated that the Conservatives’ success would be judged at the next general election. She said, “This conference is where we are showing the direction of travel: a stronger economy, stronger borders and that we’re the only party tough enough and competent enough to deliver both,” and characterized the defections as merely shedding “baggage.”
Brett Rosehill, one of the defectors, challenged Badenoch’s view, stating, “I don’t think it’s ‘shedding baggage.’ I think there’s a strong, growing movement of people who care about British values and safety.”
Notably, while the Conservatives have long positioned themselves as a party of “strong borders,” legalized mass migration remained near record levels throughout much of their time in office from 2010 to mid-2024, and exploded in their last several years in office during the so-called “Boriswave.” An illegal boat migrant crisis in the English Channel also took hold during their tenure.
Reform has been steadily gaining momentum since the 2024 general election, winning 677 municipal government seats in May’s local elections and taking control of several councils previously held by the Conservatives, as well as seizing Doncaster from the governing Labour Party. The Conservatives have collapsed to just 16 percent in the polls, with conference attendees noting the venue is largely empty.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: A suspected Latin Kings gang member was charged with allegedly placing a bounty on U.S. Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Juan Espinoza Martinez, a Mexican national, and U.S. Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: Martinez was arrested on October 6, 2025, in Burr Ridge, Illinois.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Depraved individuals like Juan Espinoza Martinez—who do not value human life and threaten law enforcement—do NOT belong in this country.” – Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin
🎯IMPACT: Martinez faces federal charges for soliciting the murder of a senior law enforcement official, highlighting ongoing tensions over immigration enforcement.
IN FULL
A Latin Kings gang member, Juan Espinoza Martinez, has been charged with allegedly placing a bounty on U.S. Border Patrol commander-at-large Gregory Bovino, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). Martinez, a Mexican national, was arrested on October 6, 2025, in Burr Ridge, Illinois, after a confidential source informed law enforcement that a “hit” had been placed on Bovino, who is overseeing the “Midway Blitz” immigration enforcement operation in Chicago, Illinois, where the violent criminal gang is based.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revealed that Martinez used Snapchat to offer a $2,000 bounty for information and a $10,000 reward “if you take him down.” A separate message reportedly referenced the Latin Kings gang. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin condemned Martinez’s actions, stating, “Depraved individuals like Juan Espinoza Martinez—who do not value human life and threaten law enforcement—do NOT belong in this country.”
Martinez has been charged in federal court with soliciting the murder of a senior law enforcement official. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized the seriousness of the case, stating, “Placing a bounty on the head of a federal officer is an attack on the rule of law and on every American who depends on law enforcement to keep them safe.”
Chicago has become a focal point for immigration enforcement efforts, with protests erupting against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and federal deportation policies. Bovino, who leads operations in Chicago, has been a visible figure in implementing the Trump administration’s immigration policies, which have faced violent attacks perpetrated by far-left rioters and backed by state and local politicians like Governor J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) and Mayor Brandon Johnson (D).
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Chicago Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino described the arrest as a testament to law enforcement’s commitment to protecting those who uphold justice. “Targeting a senior federal officer is a cowardly and direct assault on the rule of law,” Scarpino said.
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❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Supreme Court is set to hear a challenge to Colorado’s law banning “conversion therapy” for minors, brought by a licensed counselor who claims it violates her free speech rights.
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👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Kaley Chiles, a licensed counselor, supported by the Alliance Defending Freedom, is challenging Colorado’s law. The State of Colorado and its licensing officials are defending the law.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The Supreme Court will hear arguments in October. The case originates from Colorado, where the law has been in effect since 2019.
💬KEY QUOTE: “It’s not the government’s role to peer into the counseling room and say some goals are permitted. Some goals are forbidden. Some speech is allowed. Some speech is forbidden.” – Jonathan Scruggs, Alliance Defending Freedom
🎯IMPACT: The case could have significant implications for free speech, professional conduct regulations, and state power over healthcare practices.
IN FULL
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments Tuesday in a case challenging Colorado’s ban on “conversion therapy” for minors. The case was brought by licensed counselor Kaley Chiles, who claims the law violates her First Amendment rights by preventing her from speaking freely with clients who seek counseling on issues related to gender identity and sexual orientation.
Chiles, who offers faith-based counseling, says she is unable to provide the type of guidance some clients are looking for due to the restrictions in the 2019 law. “When I’m having to turn them away, they don’t get help that is helpful for any of those issues,” she said.
The Colorado law prohibits licensed mental health professionals from attempting to change a minor’s sexual orientation or gender identity through therapy. Violators can face fines up to $5,000 and may risk losing their professional licenses. State officials argue the law is necessary to protect minors from practices they describe as harmful and ineffective. They claim it regulates professional conduct, not speech.
Chiles is backed by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal group that often takes on free speech and religious liberty cases. She argues that the law unfairly targets her counseling approach, which can involve helping young clients align their gender identity with their biological sex.
“It’s not the government’s role to peer into the counseling room and say some goals are permitted. Some goals are forbidden. Some speech is allowed. Some speech is forbidden,” said Jonathan Scruggs, senior counsel at the Alliance Defending Freedom.
The case has sparked national interest due to its broader implications. Legal scholars warn that a ruling in Chiles’s favor could reshape how states regulate healthcare and other professional services. Shannon Minter of the National Center for LGBTQ Rights complained, “If the court were to accept Chiles’ argument… it would be a very revolutionary, dramatic change in the current legal landscape.”
Both sides have referenced a 2018 Supreme Court decision that struck down a California law requiring crisis pregnancy centers to provide information about abortion. In that case, the Court emphasized that the government cannot compel speech or silence specific viewpoints in a professional setting.
The Trump administration filed a brief supporting Chiles, with then-Solicitor General D. John Sauer writing, “Colorado is muzzling one side of an ongoing debate in the mental-health community.”
When Colorado passed the law, lawmakers defined conversion therapy as any practice that seeks to change sexual orientation or gender identity. In other states like Michigan, similar laws have drawn criticism from opponents who say they could punish parents or counselors who choose not to affirm a child’s transgender identity.
A decision from the Court is expected by summer 2026.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: Taiwan is planning to acquire additional Patriot air defense systems from the U.S. amid growing missile threats from China.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Taiwan’s Air Force, the U.S. government, Lockheed Martin, and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
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📍WHEN & WHERE: The systems are expected to arrive before the end of 2025, with further deliveries planned for 2026. This development follows recent Chinese military expansions near Taiwan.
💬KEY QUOTE: “PAC-3 MSE defends against incoming threats through direct body-to-body contact delivering exponentially more kinetic energy on the target than can be achieved with blast fragmentation mechanisms.” – Lockheed Martin
🎯IMPACT: The potential acquisition underscores Taiwan’s increasing reliance on U.S. defense systems to counter China’s growing military aggression.
IN FULL
Taiwan is weighing a potential defense expansion, including additional orders for Patriot air defense systems from the United States, as China continues to advance its missile capabilities. The Taiwanese Air Force confirmed on Monday that it is monitoring the progress of its existing Patriot Advanced Capability-2 (PAC-2) upgrade and PAC-3 systems, with deliveries on track.
The Patriot system has been combat-proven, with its effectiveness demonstrated in conflicts involving U.S. forces in the Middle East and Ukraine’s defense against Russia. Taiwan, long under threat from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), relies heavily on U.S. weapons systems as part of its defense strategy.
Satellite imagery published last week revealed that Chinese missile units on the east coast facing Taiwan have expanded their bases and deployed advanced missiles. In 2022, China launched ballistic missiles into the waters surrounding Taiwan during military exercises, further escalating tensions.
Taiwan has already signed agreements to acquire PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) systems, with two batches scheduled for delivery in 2025 and 2026. Lockheed Martin, the U.S. defense contractor responsible for the PAC-3 MSE, recently secured a $9.8 billion contract from the U.S. Army to produce nearly 2,000 interceptors, the largest such contract in its history.
Meanwhile, China’s military media released footage showcasing its missile-launching capabilities, signaling its readiness for potential conflict. The Pentagon’s 2024 Chinese military power report warned of China’s ability to target Taiwan’s key government and military sites.
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❓WHAT HAPPENED: French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigned just hours after unveiling his cabinet, marking the third government collapse in France in under a year.
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👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: French President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, opposition leaders, including Marine Le Pen, of the populist National Rally (RN) party, and Jean-Luc Mélenchon, of the far-left France Unbowed party, and German government officials.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Paris, France; October 6, following Lecornu’s cabinet announcement on Sunday evening.
💬KEY QUOTE: “The interest of France requires that Emmanuel Macron schedule his resignation, in order to preserve the institutions and unblock a situation that has been unavoidable since the absurd dissolution.” – David Lisnard, Mayor of Cannes.
🎯IMPACT: Macron faces growing pressure to resign or dissolve the National Assembly, with political instability affecting France’s economy and raising concerns in the European Union (EU).
IN FULL
French President Emmanuel Macron is facing growing pressure to resign or dissolve the National Assembly after Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu stepped down on the morning of October 6, just hours after presenting his new cabinet. Lecornu’s resignation marks the third collapse of a French government in under a year, highlighting the deepening political crisis Macron’s administration is struggling to contain.
Lecornu, appointed less than a month ago, had attempted to stabilize the government by pledging not to use Article 49.3 of the French Constitution. This controversial mechanism allows the government to bypass parliament when passing legislation. However, his cabinet choices, announced late Sunday, triggered backlash across the political spectrum. The center-right Les Républicains (LR), whose support Lecornu needed for a working majority, publicly rejected the appointments, leaving his government effectively dead on arrival.
In response, calls for Macron to step down have intensified. Populist National Rally (RN) leader Marine Le Pen called on the French president “to dissolve the National Assembly; we’ve reached the end of the road. There won’t be any more tomorrow… We’ve reached the end of the joke, the farce has gone on long enough.” Her party’s president, Jordan Bardella, concurred that stability could only be restored through new elections.
Despite the mounting criticism, Macron has refused to resign and maintains that he will complete his second term, which runs until 2027. However, his authority has been visibly weakened since he called surprise snap elections in 2024 following poor European Parliament results, which RN topped. That move proved to be a disaster, with the “Macronist” majority losing out to both the RN and a bloc of far-left parties, leaving the government in a near-constant state of paralysis.
Public dissatisfaction is also rising. A poll conducted in early 2025 showed that over 60 percent of French citizens believe Macron should resign, citing loss of trust, political instability, and failure to deliver on promised reforms. Meanwhile, protests and strikes continue to paralyze parts of the country. The “Block Everything” movement has led to widespread disruption, including road blockades and violent clashes with police in Paris.
Economic concerns are adding to the pressure. The Paris stock exchange dropped following Lecornu’s resignation, and foreign officials, including from Germany, have stressed the need for a stable France to ensure broader European stability.
With no clear path forward, Macron faces a difficult decision: appoint another prime minister at the risk of another quick collapse, or give in to demands for new legislative elections.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump congratulated Japan on electing its first female prime minister after the right-leaning Liberal Democratic Party selected Sanae Takaichi to lead them.
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👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, Sanae Takaichi, and the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan.
📍WHEN & WHERE: October 6, in Japan and via Truth Social.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Japan has just elected its first female Prime Minister, a highly respected person of great wisdom and strength. This is tremendous news for the incredible people of Japan. Congratulations to all!” – Donald Trump
🎯IMPACT: Sanae Takaichi is expected to assume the role of Prime Minister following formal confirmation, with significant ties to the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
IN FULL
President Donald J. Trump on Monday issued a congratulatory message to Japan after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) selected Sanae Takaichi as its leader in an internal vote, writing: “Japan has just elected its first female Prime Minister, a highly respected person of great wisdom and strength. This is tremendous news for the incredible people of Japan. Congratulations to all!”
Though Takaichi has not yet formally assumed the premiership, she is expected to do so after the right-leaning LDP’s internal election. The party holds only a plurality in the Japanese legislature’s lower house, so she will need parliamentary confirmation to become Prime Minister. Sitting Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, has pledged to resign this week, clearing the path for her accession. Takaichi is viewed as a close ally of the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, known for his warm ties with President Trump.
Takaichi, 64, is one of the most conservative figures in the LDP and has held significant ministerial posts in internal affairs, gender equality, and economic security. She has long advocated for strengthening Japan’s defense capabilities and revising its pacifist constitution, while promoting a more assertive foreign policy. Domestically, she opposes recognition of same‑sex marriage and resists allowing married couples to adopt separate surnames.
Her rise comes at a time of deep structural challenges in Japan. The country is enduring a demographic crisis: in 2024, births dropped to a historic low of around 686,000, marking the first time the annual total fell below 700,000 since record‑keeping began. The total fertility rate declined to 1.15, far blow the 2.1 threshold needed for population stability, and deaths exceeded births by a wide margin. The country’s population shrinkage also accelerated, with nearly 900,000 net losses in 2024 alone.
Japan has been under pressure to embrace mass migration, but still maintains some of the strictest asylum and immigration policies among advanced nations. In 2023, it approved just 303 out of 13,823 asylum applications, a rate of about 2.2 percent.
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