Saturday, July 19, 2025

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WATCH: Trump Delivers Commencement Speech to ‘First Graduating Class of the Golden Age of America.’

PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: President Donald J. Trump delivered a commencement address at the University of Alabama.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Trump, University of Alabama graduates, university officials, family members, and Alabama political figures including Governor Kay Ivey (R) and Senator Tommy Tuberville (R).

📍 Where & When: The speech occurred at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Thursday.

💬 Key Quote: “You’re the first graduating class of the Golden Age of America,” Trump told the graduates, highlighting his view of the current period as a time of renewal.

⚠️ Impact: The speech framed America, 250 years after the Revolution, as being in the midst of another rebellion against a political establishment rejected by voters in the 2024 election.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump spoke Thursday at the University of Alabama’s commencement, commending them as the inaugural graduates of “the Golden Age of America.”

“Now, exactly 250 years after the first patriots stood and fought at Lexington and Concord, we’re in the midst of another kind of revolution—a revolution of winning and a revolution of common sense,” the America First leader said, declaring that “the spirit of our age is one of boldness, vigor, ambition, and adventure.”

“And it’s exciting to be you—and young. Oh, I’d pay you a lot of money to have your age,” he joked, promising the graduates “a great future.”

WATCH:

READ THE FULL TRANSCRIPT:

Thank you, Coach. Wow, what a nice-looking group this is. What a beautiful group of people. And especially a very big hello to the University of Alabama. Congratulations to the class of 2025. Roll Tide.

There are things that happen in life that are very important, and you always remember where you were when they happened. As a student at Alabama, you’ll always remember where you were when your head coach, Nick Saban, retired. Remember that? Because he’s done such a fantastic job. The last time I was here—and that’s true with Nick—what a great coach. Let’s bring him back. No, you have a good coach right now, though. I had a good coach right down. He was great. But the last time I was here, the Crimson Tide beat the Georgia Bulldogs, 41 to 33. I was here, I got to watch it. That was some game.

Today it’s my pleasure to return to this campus as the first president ever to deliver the keynote commencement address to this truly great American university. It’s a great school. And there’s nowhere I’d rather be than right here in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Titletown, USA. That’s what it’s become. And I love this place. Maybe it’s because I won Alabama by 45 points. Could that be the reason? You know, the way they say, like, the polls have closed in Alabama, Trump has won Alabama immediately. It was very quick. It’s very, very quick and nasty. That’s what we like.

They put all seven of your commencement ceremonies—I don’t know if you know this—but they put them all together. First time ever. So I better do well, or I’m in big trouble. But I want to thank President Bell for his 10 years of distinguished service. Highly respected gentleman. Ten years of service to this great university, overseeing the education of 100,000 proud Alabama graduates. That’s something to have on your record.

I also want to thank Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, who’s here with us. I just took a picture. I said, you’re doing a great job. Along with a very wonderful man, a friend of mine, Senator Tommy Tuberville. Where’s Tommy? When he wanted to run for the Senate, you know, I said, well, you beat Alabama six times in a row. How can you run for Senate? He said, well, I just look at them and say, well I was responsible for them getting Nick Saban. I said, that’s a good reason. And he won very easily. He won. But I’ll never forget that.

Thanks also to a wonderful person, Representative Lisa McLean—a great person, highly respected. Gary Palmer, Robert Aderholt, Dale Strong, Ronnie Jackson, Ralph Norman, along with Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen—great people. Alabama Senate President Pro Tem Garland Gudger, Chancellor Sid Trant, and members of the University of Alabama Board of Trustees.

But most importantly, and they would agree with this, let’s give a big round of applause to your incredible parents, grandparents, and family members. Because they made this wonderful day possible. Are you great without them? It doesn’t happen without them. You probably aren’t here, and you wouldn’t have that big, beautiful smile on your faces.

This year, the graduating Alabama class of 2025 has over 6,600 graduates. You’re the largest class in school history. Among your ranks are 800 first-generation college students and nearly 3,000 students from right here in the great state of Alabama. Amazing.

This class also includes many Rhodes Scholars, Goldwater Scholars, 213 Merit Scholars, and over 1,500 students graduating with red caps. You know what that signifies? 4.0 GPA. That’s a lot of students. That’s pretty good. I know who I’d pick. I’d look for a red cap. I’d say, I want you to work for the beautiful Trump administration, this lovely administration.

In addition, the class of 2025 has nearly 130 active-duty service members, veterans, and members of the University of Alabama ROTC. Thank you very much.

Everywhere you look, you can see the fierce spirit of this school—but nowhere more clearly than in your world-class athletics. There’s nothing like it. Probably there’s no school like it. That’s why I would like to recognize the 11 graduating seniors on the University of Alabama football team. Where may they be? Where are they? You just have to look, and they’re about a foot taller than everybody else. Oh, great. Thank you very much. Congratulations. Great season. Thank you. Thank you. Great season.

There is something truly special about the players, coaches, and the fans who pack the stands at Bryant-Denny Stadium and proudly sing “Dixieland Delight.” We like that. Alabama has changed college football forever and inscribed into the history books the names of Bear Bryant, Joe Namath, four Heisman Trophy winners, and, of course, the great Nick Saban. This place is truly where legends are made. It really is. It’s a special place.

When your president called, we talked about it. It took me about two seconds to say, I’ll go. I wasn’t looking to do it, and we are busy. You know, we’re winning a lot of battles right now. We love winning. Don’t we love winning? We’re winning. But I wanted to do this.

For the University of Alabama, good isn’t good enough, tough isn’t tough enough, and great isn’t great enough. The Crimson Tide does not rest, does not quit, and does not stop winning until it’s all time. You know, it’s all time—you’re always winning, and you’re going to keep winning.

That’s why the University of Alabama football team has won more games in the last decade than any college football team in America. That’s not bad. And it’s why last fall you beat Auburn for the fifth year in a row. That’s not bad.

The University of Alabama has a brand, and that brand is winning. That brand is a great school. Last year, the Crimson Chaos watched the Tide hoops make it to the Final Four for the first time ever. And this year you built on your incredible record and returned to the Elite Eight. So not only is Alabama a great football school, it’s now one of the nation’s best basketball schools. And congratulations.

And I love sports, and I think I should have come here. I think I should have come here.

Congratulations as well to the women’s track and field team for winning two SEC titles this year. That’s something. As long as we can keep going, we’re going to win.

And as long as I’m president, we will always protect women’s sports. Men will not play in women’s schools. No way! They say that’s an 80–20 issue. No, it’s a 97–3 issue, I think. No, men will not be playing in women’s sports. I said that, and I classified it with a very powerful executive order, as you know. It’s done.

The class of 2025 was the first to enter the halls of this university in the aftermath of COVID-19. Following a difficult senior year of high school, many of you came here to Tuscaloosa from around the country. And for the very first time, you experienced something called freedom. You had freedom.

So let’s give a big round of applause to the leaders of this state who chose liberty over lockdowns. They did. They did a good job.

As you know, there are few campuses in the world more beautiful than this one, and there are few memories sweeter than the ones you have formed at the Capstone. You’ll miss the beautiful sounds of Denny Chimes, the excitement of lining the Walk of Champions, the Saturday tailgates at the Quad.

As you graduate, it’s natural to reflect on four years of happy memories, and you’ve really had happy memories here. You’ve done a lot of winning. Winning is a good thing to do.

But today I’m also asking you to look forward to something very, very bright and more promising. And it’s going to be an even more promising tomorrow. I promise you that. You’re the first graduating class of the Golden Age of America. We’re in the Golden Age. You watch. There’s a goal there, man. This is the Golden Age. We’ve done things that nobody thought possible.

One hundred days—yesterday was 100 days—and we’ve done things that nobody thought even possible. Like many generations before you, you’re graduating at an exciting time for our nation, a period of both extraordinary change and incredible potential and what will be unbelievable growth. You’re going to see that very soon. You’re gonna see it starting very, very soon when the whole world is talking about it.

Our country has always been defined by its ability to reform and reinvent itself to meet the challenges of the next era. The last four years were not good for our country, but don’t let that scare you. It was an aberration. We were run by people who truly, at that time—four years—we were run by people that didn’t have a clue. They didn’t have a clue, and I’m trying to be nice when I say it that way.

They allowed our beautiful USA to be laughed at, scorned, and taken advantage of. We were ripped off on trade by nations all over the world, both friend and foe—and oftentimes a friend was far worse on trade than the foe. But those days are over.

You’re at the start of something very, very big. You’re going to see that very soon.

Now, exactly 250 years after the first patriots stood and fought at Lexington and Concord, we’re in the midst of another kind of revolution—a revolution of winning and a revolution of common sense.

Everywhere you look, broken systems, corrupt institutions, and tired dogmas are being swept away by the tide of history. Ancient wisdom is being rediscovered, and the best and strongest traits of America are coming back for all to see—bigger, better, and greater than ever. They’re coming back, and they’re coming back fast.

The spirit of our age is one of boldness, vigor, ambition, and adventure. And it’s exciting to be you—and young. Oh, I’d pay you a lot of money to have your age. You have a great future.

The people have rejected the voices of a failed establishment. You saw that in the election. We’ve turned the page on endless wars, crippling debt, open borders, ruinous inflation, and the lack of respect for our country and for its leaders. But we’re turning that all around, and we’re turning it around very fast.

We will very quickly make America great again.

This week, we’re celebrating the most successful first 100 days of any presidential administration in the history of our country. We’ve been given a lot of credit for that. But 100 days does not a full term make. We’re going to do even better as we move along.

In a matter of weeks, we’ve achieved the lowest number of illegal border crossings ever recorded. And you’ve seen it—hundreds of thousands of people pouring into our country from prisons, from mental institutions, from gangs, and from all over the world—not just in South America. You’d see hundreds of thousands of people pour across in one day.

You know what we had just recently? Three. Three. Three.

And we slashed the number of illegal aliens released into the United States by 99.999%. And if that number is wrong, the fake news—which is all over the place today—is going to be correcting me before I get to the next sentence. But 99.999%—how about that? Nobody thought that was possible. They said you needed legislation. No, you just needed a new president. That’s what you needed.

But despite the tremendous success, as you’ve been reading, the courts are trying to stop me from doing the job that I was elected to do. We won by millions of votes. We won all seven swing states—seven out of seven. We won 312 electoral college votes. They said, oh, 270 would be great. We won 312. And 2,750 counties versus 525 counties throughout the nation. And that’s why, when you look at a map, it’s all red. It’s all red. Every inch of it is red—a couple of little blue dots.

But they have to let us do the job that the voters want us to do. Judges are interfering, supposedly based on due process. But how can you give due process to people who came into our country illegally? They want to give them due process? I don’t know.

We’ve created 350,000 new jobs and brought core inflation down to its lowest level in many, many years. Energy is down—look at your cost of energy, way down. Groceries are down. Even eggs are down. Remember, I came in—I was here a week—and they started screaming at me, the fake news: “Egg prices have doubled!” I said, “I just got here. I’ve been here for four days.” I said, “Tell me about egg prices.” “They’ve doubled!” Well, they didn’t double under me. I just got there, and we did a great job.

We brought down the cost of eggs. In fact, they said, you won’t have eggs for Easter. They wanted to give—we have a big Easter egg hunt at the White House. You saw it just take place. And they thought we should order thousands of plastic eggs. Plastic! They said, no, we’ll do it. And we straightened out the egg situation very quickly. Our great Secretary of Agriculture did a fantastic job, and we had so many eggs, we didn’t know what the hell to do with them.

And prices of eggs have gone down 87% since I took office. That’s something, right?

But the price of food has gone down, and mortgage rates are down, and gasoline prices just hit $1.88 a gallon in three states. Can you believe it? It was at $3.50. It was $4. We’re drilling—oh, we’re drilling. You know: drill, baby, drill. We drill, baby, drill. We do that. We got it down. We have it going good. And you know when energy drops that much, you don’t have much inflation. It’s hard to have inflation.

It was just announced that in the first quarter, investments in the United States are up 22%—that we’re leading the whole world in investment. Everybody’s pouring into our country with big dollars. And it’s all about November 5th—the November 5th election—and tariffs and incentives that we’ve given that are gonna make this country so much richer.

We have $36 trillion in debt. That’s going to start to come off. It’s going to come off rapidly. But we’ll be over $8 trillion in investment—with Apple and others investing $500 billion each. We’ve never had a period of time—two months, because we’re here for three months, a little bit more. But give me a break for the first month, you know, had to get a little acclimated. Had to see where the enemy lies, because they’re already looking to impeach Trump. You know these crazy people—”Let’s impeach him!” For what? “We don’t know exactly, but we’ll try it!” These people are crazy.

So we had to get our bearings for the first couple of weeks. So in two months we had over $8 trillion—think of it—committed. Nobody’s ever seen anything like it. There’s never been anything like it in any country at any time. And it’s all because they want to avoid the tariffs. They want to get here fast.

And I said, you know, a number of times, “Tariff”—it’s the most beautiful word in the world. And absolutely decimated by the fake news. They said, “What about love? What about your wife? What about your parents? What about religion and God?” So I said, “All right, it’s the fifth nicest word I’ve ever seen.” And since I’ve done that, I’ve been in good shape. Nobody’s bothered me. They’ve been very nice.

So it’s the fifth most beautiful word I’d ever heard. But it’s making us very rich. And you’ll be seeing the results pretty soon—sooner than most people think. Because that’s what other countries have been doing to us, just so you understand. They were tariffing the hell out of us. We couldn’t sell cars in Europe. We couldn’t sell cars in China. We couldn’t sell cars in Japan or anywhere else. We couldn’t do anything. And all we’re doing is—we’re doing it to them. But we’re doing it much better.

And the U.S. military is suddenly seeing its best recruiting numbers ever. We’ve never had numbers like this. We now have waiting lists because there is such incredible spirit in our country. There’s a great spirit.

And just think—six months ago, and you remember—it was embarrassing. Before the election, for six months we were hearing and reading that numbers of those joining our military were at the worst levels ever. We’ve never had anything like it, right? You remember that?

And now they’re at the best levels ever. We have waiting lists to get into the military. We couldn’t fill the positions. And that included in our police forces, our fire departments. We love our fire department also. We can never forget our fire departments. But our police forces were begging for help. And now they’re brimming over with people and applicants, and they’re getting great people. It’s amazing what’s taken place. And that’s really the spirit.

Each of the graduates in this arena will soon have the chance to help lead this project of national renewal. And that’s what it is—it’s a national renewal. We suffered so badly for four years. We had one of the greatest economies—we actually had the greatest economy in the history of our country—during the first term of Trump. And then we got hit hard with inflation.

During the Biden economy, it was horrible. We were hit so hard—the worst probably ever. They say 48 years—we’ll accept that. But I would say ever.

You’ll embrace this moment, and you’ll step forward with strength and grit, faith and patriotism to put America on a new trajectory for your children. And then you’ll take your place among the greatest generations in the history of our country. I think you have a chance to be the greatest generation in the country, because we’re turning it around—and you happen to be available. You’re available. That’s a good time to be available. There are some times when it’s not so good to be available, but this is a great time.

I’m absolutely confident that the Alabama class of 2025 is up to the task. Are you up to the task? You learned a lot about winning here at Alabama. And now we need you to help win for America.

For the business majors here today, I challenge you not merely to use your talents for financial speculation, but to apply your great skills that you’ve learned and had to forging the steel and pouring the concrete of new American factories, plants, shipyards, and even cities, which are going up all over our country.

Don’t just build a strong portfolio—build a very, very strong America. And you’re going to do that.

To the engineers—brilliant you are—technicians, scientists and math majors, we need your Alabama spirit and competition to keep our country at the forefront of every single domain. America should have the world’s tallest buildings, design the fastest airplanes, build the greatest cars, do everything the absolute best—better than any other nation in the world—and you can do it.

And we will soon land American astronauts on Mars. That will happen. That will happen.

In every field you have studied, there are problems to be solved and breakthroughs to be made.

To the journalism majors—of which I’ve had a lot of problems with, I must be honest—I’m not sure I like them. No, I do. I do. But you’re really leading a very important thing, because we need a great and free press. We need a brilliant press. They’re like a watchkeeper. They are very important, and you can go and take it down a new track. Help save the country. So important. Your task is so important, and it’s to build a media that Americans can trust. And remember: the people of this country, they know the truth when they hear it. That’s why the ratings, the approval numbers of the media, are so low. We need those ratings to be 100%. We have to be able to trust our media.

They say you have to have that. You need strong, strong borders, and you need really free, fair, clean elections. You need those things. But the media is a big part of it.

In the world of health and medicine, there is an exciting new movement to get poisons out of our food supply, keep toxins out of our government, clean out our environment, and make America healthy again. And I think Bobby’s gonna do a great job, don’t you? I think so. I think he’s the guy we needed.

And in government, it is the task of your generation to replace bureaucracy, graft, and waste with a new system that defends American freedom. These are big tasks before you. But the reward for your hard work will be that the United States of America is stronger, prouder, better, and more unified than ever, ever, ever before. It’s going to be.

As you embark on this great adventure, let me share some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from a lifetime spent building dreams and beating the odds. I beat a lot of odds. A lot of people said, “I don’t know,” but it worked out okay. Where are we? Oh gee, I’m president. How did that happen?

Now, you’re going to be in the same position. Would you like to hear some of these ideas or should I just skip over that part, huh? That’s going to be more interesting than all the other stuff, which was slightly political, right? I’m going to give it to you, though—just as I see it and as I’ve learned it, the hard way and the easy way.

First, if you’re here today and think that you’re too young to do something great, let me tell you that you are wrong. You’re not too young. You can have great success at a very young age. You’re all very young. In America, with drive and ambition, young people can do anything.

I was 28 when I took my first big gamble—to develop a hotel in Midtown Manhattan, the Grand Hyatt—and it worked out incredibly well. But I was very young at the time. I was like a very young person in sort of an old person’s business.

Steve Jobs was 21 when he founded Apple. Walt Disney was 21 when he founded Disney. James Madison, James Monroe, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson—they were no older than 25 when they began the journeys that etched their names into the history books for all time.

So to everyone here today: Don’t waste your youth. Go out and fight right from the beginning—from the day you leave this incredible university. Go out and fight. Fight tough, fight fair—but go out and fight. You’re gonna be very successful, because now is the time to work harder than you have ever worked before. Push yourself further than you have ever pushed yourself before. Find your limits—and then smash through everything. Go and smash through.

You’ve watched that football team smash through—you’re gonna do the same thing. You’re at the age when you have the time and vitality to do really incredible things, if you give it your all. You’ll look back, and a decade from now, you’ll be astounded by what you’ve achieved.

You’ll remember this day. You’ll remember when the guy named Trump was giving the commencement address and he said, “I could do it.” And guess what? I think you’re going to remember that very fondly. I hope so.

Second of all, and very importantly, you have to love what you do, okay? You have to. I rarely see somebody that’s successful that doesn’t love what he or she does. That way, you really like work—it isn’t work. It’s fun. I find it fun. I work all the time, and I find that fun. If I didn’t find it, I wouldn’t be successful—whether it was real estate or in showbiz. I had a lot of different careers.

But I loved real estate so much. I was very successful in real estate because I loved it. I learned a lot from my father because I watched him work. He was a workaholic. He loved to work. He was a good man. He was a tough guy—tough as hell, actually. Now that I think back, I don’t know if you could even get away with that nowadays. He was tough, but he was a good man, I’ll tell you.

He worked seven days a week. He worked Saturdays, Sundays—it didn’t matter. And I learned by watching him. He loved his life. He loved what he was doing. He had a great long-term marriage—many, many, many years. He beat me on that one. Now, mine were very successful, but they haven’t lasted quite as long. It was close to 70 years. That was a long time. I said, “Pop, you beat me on that one.”

But you know what I learned from him? That he loved life. And all he did was work. I see people that don’t work hard and they’re miserable. So go out and find something you love—and do it.

You have to find something that you love, and you have to follow your own instincts. Listen to your parents—they’re very wise—but you have to follow your instincts and your heart, your soul, and you want to be the very, very best you can be. Treat every day like a home game against Auburn. Fight like hell and enjoy doing it—and your coach can tell you all about that.

Third thing is to think big. You know, if you’re going to do something, you might as well think big, because it’s just as tough. You can think small—I know a lot of people, they thought small. They’re very smart. I know others that weren’t nearly as smart, but they had a better picture of the big picture. Because it’s just as hard to solve a small problem as a big problem. It’s just as much energy and everything else, except the result is going to be a smaller one.

So love what you do—but think big, if it’s possible. Now, if it’s not possible, that’s okay too. You do something—you have to do something that you love. You will have all the same headaches and challenges, all the same delays and setbacks, so you might as well do something that’s just amazing.

America doesn’t aim small. Alabama doesn’t aim small. And neither do you. So think big when possible. Think big.

Fourth is work hard. Work hard. Never, ever stop. An example is a great athlete actually—Gary Player, golfer. Great, great golfer. He wasn’t as big as other men. He was actually on the small side—don’t tell him that, he’s a friend of mine. Don’t tell him that, because he doesn’t understand that. But he worked very, very hard. He made up for it. He never stopped. He won 168 golf tournaments—think of that. I said, “Gary, you’re winning like every weekend. Do you ever choke or anything?” He said, “I don’t know what choke means.”

And he made a statement years ago that I read, and I thought it was sort of an incredible statement. He said, “It’s funny—the harder I work, the luckier I get.” Think of that. “The harder I work, the luckier I get.”

So you really have to work hard. And you’re going to be successful, because you have the talent to get into this school. It’s not easy to get through it—it’s even more difficult. You have a lot of talent.

Fifth is don’t lose your momentum. You just want to keep it going. And you have to know if you are losing it. You have to know when you’re losing it. So maybe you stop. Maybe it’s time to stop. Listen to the feedback. Think through your plan very carefully and keep moving fast. The word momentum is very important.

Let me tell you a little story about a great real estate developer named William Levitt. He built Levittown. Some of you might live in one. He was the biggest developer in the whole country in the 1940s and so on. And he built these jobs. He started with one house, then two houses, then 20 houses, then thousands and thousands of houses.

And a company, Gulf and Western, came along and they said, “We’re going to make you an offer to buy your company.” And they offered him a lot of money. A lot of money—more money than he ever thought he could make. And he retired. Lost his momentum. He retired. And he led a beautiful life.

He had a wife—I must tell you, it was his second wife. It was a trophy wife. What can I say? I don’t like telling you everything, but we’re all friends, right? Can we talk? We’re all friends. He had his trophy wife and he lived a different life. He moved to the south of France. It was a life of tremendous luxury. He had so many millions of dollars. He was given a fortune for the company.

And ten years went by, and then fifteen years went by, and he got a call from this big conglomerate, Gulf and Western. And they said, “We’re not doing well with the purchase.” Because he used to pick up every nail, every piece of sawdust, every piece of wood, every chip—everything—and he’d sell it and make a couple of bucks, and everything was perfect. They can’t do that. You know, these big companies—they don’t do that.

You see it a lot when an entrepreneur sells to a big company, and then he ends up buying the company back for peanuts later on. Happens a lot. But he was the best at what he did. But fifteen years went by, and he was so excited—and they sold him back his company.

He started, and he was going to tear apart the world because he got bored with a life of luxury. And he started building and building and building, and the markets turned on him. And he went bad. He lost everything. And he went bankrupt. Absolutely bankrupt. And it was a sad story to read. It was such an amazing story, because he was so rich. He paid them, and he bought it for the right price—bought it low—but he went wild. But he lost his momentum. He wasn’t good at it anymore.

He was at a party on Fifth Avenue—I’ll never forget. It was a party of a very, very powerful man who was having the party in a magnificent apartment overlooking the park. I walked in and there were 50 or so people—I recognized most of them—all the biggest business people in the world, actually. Very glamorous.

I was doing well. I was young, and I was going well. And I was invited to parties like that. I looked in the corner and there was Mr. William Levitt, sitting all by himself on a chair, looking very glum. Nobody was talking to him. You’ll find that when you’re not successful, you lose a lot of friends. It’s not a good situation. But there was nobody talking to him.

But I wanted to talk to him because I was in the real estate business, and he was. And most of these people were in different businesses. And I went over and talked to him and I said, “How are you, Mr. Levitt?”

He goes, “Donald,”—he knew who I was—”not well. I’m not well.”

I said, “So, can you come back?”

He said, “No, son. I lost my momentum. I shouldn’t have done it. I lost my momentum.”

I never forgot that expression. He lost his momentum. If he would have kept going instead of selling and relaxing and going into a different life, he probably would have been three times bigger than he was. But he lost his momentum. And you have to know when it’s your time.

I mean, there’ll be a time when you do lose. You see it with fighters. You see it with a lot of people. They have a great record and they retire. Then four years later they say, “I’m going back. I can beat that.” And they get knocked to hell. And it’s not good. It’s not good.

So he lost his momentum. You have to know when your momentum time is up. I call it momentum time. But follow your momentum. Very important word. You don’t hear it from too many, but I’ve seen it. I’ve seen it a lot.

Number six: If you want to change the world, you have to have the courage to be an outsider. In other words, you have to take certain risks and do things a little bit differently. Otherwise, if that weren’t the case, everybody would be successful. It doesn’t work that way.

Progress never comes from those satisfied with the failures of a broken system. It comes from those who want to fix the broken system. And you’ll make the bigger money—you’ll make more success—by acting that way. The other way may be more secure. But if you want to go to the top…

Change is never easy. And the closer you get to success, the more ferociously those with a vested interest in the past will resist you. They want to resist. So I just say: Trust me on that, because I know. You really do. You have to break the system a little bit and follow your own instincts. But if your vision is right, nothing will hold you down. Nothing.

You have to have the right vision. If you look at some of these internet people—I know so many of them. Elon is so terrific. But I know now all of them—you know, they all hated it.

It’s amazing. It’s nicer this way.

Now, in the first, you know—they didn’t know what happened because I won an election that, you know—there was never a businessman that won a presidential election. Out of 100%, 8% were generals and 92% were politicians. Not even admirals—just generals. General Washington, General Grant, General Eisenhower.

But 8% were generals and 92% were politicians. And when I ran, everyone said, “Well, he can’t win. He’s a businessman. That’s not going to work.” But you have a natural instinct for things. I guess I had a natural one.

I said to somebody, “Was I a better businessman or a politician?” And they said, “There are a lot of guys that made a lot of money, but there’s only one guy that became president who was a businessman—so I guess you’re a better politician.” But I don’t think of myself as a politician. I think of myself as a businessman. And I’m proud of that.

And I’ve applied business instinct, and that’s why I think you’re seeing us doing so well.

So number seven is: Trust your instincts. Common sense. You can go very far in life with common sense. And I apply that to politics, because some of these things—like they had open borders. Let everybody in the whole world flow into our country. That’s not common sense.

They had transgender for everybody. We ended that, if you noticed. Okay?

But they had transgenders for everybody. I said, “This is not working. This is not gonna work.” As I said before—it’s so simple—men playing in women’s sports.

Did you ever see some of the records? Did you see some of these boxing matches? You know, we have to protect. These women are great athletes. But we have to protect.

If you looked at the Olympics, where they had transitions—people going into the boxing—where the women had boxing, and they had a great champion, a female boxer… After one punch, she walked back to the corner and said, “I can’t get hit like that. I’ve never been hit like this before.”

You look at all the volleyball players that have been hurt so badly with balls that are hit at levels that they’ve never seen before. But the greatest is weightlifting. You ever see the weightlifting? Where they have a record that wasn’t broken in 18 years?

And they have—should I imitate it? You know, my wife gets very upset when I do this. She says, “Darling, it’s not presidential.” It’s here, but people like it. Should I do it or not? Do it!

All right, I’m in trouble when I get home, but that’s okay. What the hell. I’ve been in lots of trouble before.

Now, you look at the weightlifting. Where for 18 years it stands. And they have this young woman—and her parents are right where you are, in the front row—and they’re so proud of her. And it’s like 209 pounds. And she’s going to lift that.

The record stood for 18—think of it—18 years. And they put an eighth of an ounce here, a little tiny bit. And she’s going to do it. “Mom, I love you. I’m going to do it for you, Mom.” And she goes… and she goes… and she gets it. “Mom, I’m going to do it, Mom.” Tantos—

And then a guy comes along—or a gal or whatever—a transitioned person comes along. And he was a failed weightlifter as a man. But he comes along—206 pounds. They put the little thing on. And he goes… and breaks the record by 119 pounds.

That’s not right.

The other one is the swimming—you’ve heard me talk about it. Great swimmers. And you know, they rose to the top—women swimmers. And they grew up together. And they’re Olympic-class swimmers. And they’re qualifying for some big tournament.

And now the race is getting ready to start—the big race. And one young lady, she was going to set the record. She fought all her life to set the records. She has to win it by one-ninth of a second. Think of that—one-ninth.

I don’t like those odds—one-ninth of a second, right? But she looks to the left and she sees all the friends that she grew up with—down in California, from all over the country. They’re all the best swimmers. Then she looks to the right and she sees the same thing.

But there’s a person next to her who’s a giant. And she looks and she’s like, “Who is that? I don’t recognize that person.” That was a person that transitioned. And he had the wingspan of Wilt “the Stilt” Chamberlain—if anybody knows him.

And as you know what happened—she was very, very badly injured in that meet. Because he went by her so fast that she was windburned. They had to take her out. She got serious windburn. He flew back and forth and back and forth. And she didn’t know what—but she got the hell knocked out of her.

No, I’m only kidding. She wasn’t windburned. She just was beaten by a lot.

Then the race—did you see the race where they had the best female runners? And they had a guy who was a decent runner. A long-distance race. And he won by five hours and nineteen seconds.

You know, normally you win by like twelve seconds, two seconds, a quarter of a second. He won by five hours and nineteen seconds.

It’s crazy.

And, you know, honestly, it’s demeaning for women. Very demeaning. These are great athletes—it’s very demeaning. And we’re going to protect women. We’re going to protect women. We’re going to protect everybody.

So now that I’m in trouble with my wife, I’m going to blame the University of Alabama for asking me to go through with that stuff. But it’s pretty descriptive, isn’t it? Really helps.

When you know that borders are not racist. Speech is not violence. America is good. Terrorists are bad. Men can never become women. Police are not criminals. And criminals are not victims.

Eighth: Everybody should believe. Thank you. Thank you very much. Everybody should believe in the American Dream. It’s real. It’s there. And it’s right before you. We’re coming back to the American Dream.

Ninth: Think of yourself as a winner. The power of positive thinking. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, from many years ago, wrote a book—The Power of Positive Thinking. And there is a lot to it. The power of positive thinking.

Don’t consider yourself a victim. Consider yourself a winner.

In recent years, too many of our young people have really been taught to think of themselves as victims, and to blame people, and be angry. Don’t be angry.

But in America, we reject that idea—that anyone is born a victim. Our heroes are the ones who take charge of their own destiny, make their own luck, and determine their own fate—despite the odds. Despite all odds. That’s what happens. They take—really, they’re given a little chance in many cases, very little chance of success—and they become the most successful people in the world.

Whether you were born rich or poor, Black or White, male or female—in America, anyone can be a winner. And our whole country will be cheering you on. And I’ll be at the front of the line cheering you—especially because you come from this incredible university.

And next is to be an original. The old-time greats were people who had the confidence to be a little different—Teddy Roosevelt, Douglas MacArthur, George Patton, Amelia Earhart, Annie Oakley, Muhammad Ali, and so many others. So many others, far too many to name—lived their lives with pride, personality, and flair.

God only created one of you. Remember that. God created one of you. You’re all different. Some are close, but nobody is the same. You’re one of a kind.

So don’t try to be someone else. Just be yourself.

And finally—and most importantly—never, ever give up. Never give up! Never give up!

And if I’ve learned anything in life—and it’s so true—one of the most important things you can learn: if you just went a little bit longer, if you just held out a little longer, you would have been successful. The stories of that are legend. But I’ve learned that perseverance is everything.

So whatever happens—no matter where you are in life—stay optimistic, and just keep pushing forward. Just don’t stop. Never, ever give up. Victory is right around the corner.

I’ve watched Coach Saban win games that really were virtually over. You’ve seen it. You’ve been in the stands. He won a couple of games—I said, “Coach, you got lucky as hell.” He said, “I didn’t get lucky. I’m a talented guy.”

You know those little touchdowns that come out of nothing? He’s amazing. But he’s a guy that doesn’t quit and doesn’t know what the word ‘quit’ even means. He couldn’t define it. He took victory out of the jaws of defeat—and you can do that too.

At every stage in my career, my enemies—of which there were many, and probably are right now—I can think of a couple of people that don’t like me too much right now. But they said that they have to do everything they can to keep me from winning, to keep me from making it.

And I’m representing you, so I have to make it. I have big shoulders, but these are big shoulders. I have to win for you. I’m not winning for myself—I am winning for you.

Do you remember when they said that Donald Trump will never become President of the United States? Remember Barack Hussein Obama said that? Barack Hussein Obama: “Donald Trump will never be president.” Like 50 other politicians said that. Where are they now? Let me say—oh, there they are. Where are they now?

But here I am, standing before you as the 45th and 47th president. You heard that a lot. But against all odds—I did great in 2016. 2016—how great was it? And then I did much better in 2020. Sorry, the election was rigged—probably—but it was a rigged election.

And then in 2024, I made it too big to rig. I said, “We gotta do this again. We gotta do it again.” And we made it too big to rig. We made it—that was a great expression. I said, “You gotta go and vote.” Even though I was leading big in the polls, I said, “It doesn’t matter. You gotta make it too big to rig.” And they did. They went out and they voted and voted and we won the whole thing.

And it was so good. And it’s such a great mandate for our country. That’s the important thing.

So never let anyone tell you that something is impossible—ever, ever, ever. In America, the impossible is what we all want to do best. There is nothing you cannot do if you are willing to fight for it. You gotta fight, fight, fight.

Oh, I’ve heard that expression—funny. That’s not here. Not hearing that.

Actually, most of what I’ve said tonight is not on the teleprompter. That all right? Isn’t it nice to have a president that doesn’t need a teleprompter and can sort of have a little fun? Because I feel that this is home.

You know, it’s been such a great state for me. I feel it’s home. When they said Alabama, I said, “That has a good ring to me.” There’s something nice about somebody that doesn’t need a teleprompter, isn’t it?

But for the past four years, you’ve lived in a state known for its fighters, its champions, and its warriors. And you’ve lived in the great state of Alabama—one of the greatest of them all.

From Huntsville to Birmingham, from Montgomery to Mobile, and from right here in Tuscaloosa to the gleaming shores of the Gulf of America—everybody loves it. I wouldn’t say Mexico’s thrilled, but you can’t have them all. They’re not thrilled.

You continue the legacy of Alabama legends who blazed the trails, won the games, tilled the fields, forged the steel, built the ships, and gave us the victories that built America and changed the world. The entire world was changed by our victories.

This is the state that gave us the might of the Iron City, the power of the Saturn V rocket, and the roaring engines of Talladega. We love Talladega. We love Talladega!

This is the state that gave us nothing but victory. The state of some of the greatest heroes in history, like Willie Mays, Jesse Owens, Joe Louis, your coach Nick Saban, Hank Williams, and many others.

Some of you will leave here today and travel the world—but you will always know this state as… this is really Sweet Home Alabama, right? It’s always going to be your place. I sort of feel that way myself. Because from a political standpoint, it’s just been—we connected from day one. From the first day I set my foot on this beautiful soil, I connected with Alabama.

And here in Alabama, we believe that the men and women who built this country are heroes, and that America’s destiny is to be the single greatest nation on the face of the earth. And we’re bringing it back at a speed that nobody thought was possible.

We believe in freedom and family, God and country. We cherish our Constitution. We revere our Bible. And we salute our great American flag. We honor our police. We respect our veterans. And we always stand for our one and only national anthem. We love our national anthem.

We believe in strong parents, strong values, strong communities, and very strong borders. And we believe that the United States military is the greatest force for peace and justice the world has ever known.

We have a great military. We just had people that didn’t know how to lead it.

We believe the South is beautiful, Alabama is great, and America is our home. We believe in the SEC and the USA.

Graduates of the Alabama class of 2025—standing here before you in this magnificent arena—it is clear to see: the next chapter of the American story will not be written by the Harvard Crimson. It will be written by you—the Crimson Tide.

True. That’s true. That is true. That’s true. I thought that was rather clever.

If you look at what’s going on—you know, they get their $5 billion a year. That is not going to be so forthcoming now. Can you—wasn’t that a clever one though, huh? Who would think of that?

Because this is Alabama. And at Alabama, you fight, fight, fight—and you win, win, win. That’s what you know how to do.

Congratulations to you all. Congratulations to this great class of champions.

God bless you, and God bless America.

Thank you all very much.

By Popular Demand.
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The Trump Admin Wants to Change H-1B Visa Immigration.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration is considering changes to the H-1B visa system, including a potential “weighted selection process” for applicants. While the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) filed notice of a possible change with the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs on Thursday, the filing provided no further details.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: DHS, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The filing was made on Thursday with the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.

🎯IMPACT: Changes could prioritize highly skilled workers, though details remain unclear, and the rule is unlikely to affect next year’s visa holders.

IN FULL

The Trump administration is exploring changes to the H-1B visa system, which is heavily used by the tech industry to employ foreign labor, usually at far lower wages than their American counterparts. On Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) filed a notice with the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, proposing a “weighted selection process” for applicants under the capped portion of the program. The filing, however, provides no further details as to how the new system would function.

The H-1B visa has faced increased scrutiny, with some supporters of President Donald J. Trump pushing for stricter immigration rules. Meanwhile, figures like former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) frontman Elon Musk and others in the tech industry have defended the program. Critics argue that the current lottery system disproportionately benefits larger companies such as Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft, and leaves American workers at a disadvantage, having to compete with cheap foreign labor.

While the statutory cap for H-1B visas is set at 85,000 per year, the proposed changes could alter this limit. Any potential increase in the cap—which is already circumvented through a number of regulatory exceptions—would likely be met with intense backlash from the America First movement. The DHS filing, however, provided little detail about how the weighted selection process would work. Currently, visas are allocated randomly through a lottery system, which does not prioritize applicants based on qualifications or salary.

The National Pulse reported in May that the replacement of native-born American workers with cheap foreign labor remains unabated despite strong public opinion against the policy. While the total approvals for 2026 are lower than the peak years under the former Biden government, data shows 120,141 H-1B visas have been accepted for the next year. This is about equivalent to the total number of H-1Bs approved for 2021, cleared during the final year of President Trump’s first term in office.

While no specific deadline was included in the filing, the rule is unlikely to impact next year’s visa holders, as the program has already reached its capacity for the current cycle.

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RFK Jr., Rubio Reject World Health Org’s Pandemic Power Grab.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Departments of State and Health and Human Services formally rejected amendments to the International Health Regulations adopted by the World Health Assembly last year.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The World Health Organization (WHO), U.S. Departments of State and Health and Human Services, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, and State Secretary Marco Rubio.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The rejection was announced on Friday, ahead of the amendments’ binding implementation date of July 19.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The amended IHR would give the WHO the ability to order global lockdowns, travel restrictions, or any other measures it sees fit to respond to nebulous ‘potential public health risks.'” – Joint statement from State and HHS.

🎯IMPACT: The rejection prevents expanded WHO authority over U.S. public health measures and safeguards domestic sovereignty.

IN FULL

The U.S. Departments of State and Health and Human Services (HHS) have formally rejected recent amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) adopted by the World Health Assembly, which would have expanded the World Health Organization’s (WHO) power during global health emergencies.

In a joint statement released Friday, the departments criticized the amendments, saying, “The amended IHR would give the WHO the ability to order global lockdowns, travel restrictions, or any other measures it sees fit to respond to nebulous ‘potential public health risks.’” The U.S. government warned that the revised regulations could infringe upon national decision-making in public health crises.

Although the United States previously withdrew from participation in the WHO, an agency of the United Nations (UN), the amended International Health Regulations were scheduled to become binding on the U.S. starting July 19, unless formally rejected. The administration has now made clear that it will not recognize the new rules.

The joint statement also raised concerns about the WHO’s susceptibility to political interference, particularly from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime, stating the amendments “fail to address the WHO’s vulnerability to political influence and censorship, most notably from China, during outbreaks.”

Among the provisions drawing criticism are those that would compel member states to adopt digital health documents and give the WHO influence over public messaging. According to the statement, such measures “could stifle scientific debate by imposing narrative controls.”

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. echoed these concerns in a video statement, warning that the changes “open the door to the kind of narrative management, propaganda, and censorship that we saw during the COVID pandemic.” He emphasized that international cooperation is possible “without jeopardizing our civil liberties, without undermining our Constitution, and without ceding away America’s treasured sovereignty.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio also expressed strong reservations, calling the proposed language “vague and broad,” and suggesting that it could lead to WHO-directed responses “centered on political issues rather than effective actions.”

Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), who introduced the No WHO Pandemic Preparedness Treaty Without Senate Approval Act, applauded the move, highlighting the need to preserve U.S. sovereignty in matters of public health.

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Schiff Gets Criminal Referral to DOJ.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency filed a criminal referral against Sen. Adam Schiff, alleging violations of federal laws tied to mortgage and tax fraud.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Director William Pulte of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and Attorney General Pam Bondi.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The referral, detailing actions spanning from 2003 to 2019, was sent to the Justice Department and covered properties in Maryland and California.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Based on media reports, Mr. Adam B. Schiff has, in multiple instances, falsified bank documents and property records to acquire more favorable loan terms, impacting payments from 2003–2019 for a Potomac, Maryland-based property.” – William Pulte

🎯IMPACT: Schiff faces potential penalties, including up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines, if charged and convicted.

IN FULL

A criminal referral submitted by William Pulte, Director of the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), to Attorney General Pam Bondi, accuses Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) of possibly violating multiple federal statutes, including wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, and making false statements to financial institutions.

According to a report published on July 17, Pulte’s referral is based on findings from Fannie Mae financial crimes investigators and outlines what he describes as a “pattern of possible occupancy misrepresentation” connected to Schiff’s handling of real estate holdings in Maryland and California from 2003 to 2019.

“Based on media reports, Mr. Adam B. Schiff has, in multiple instances, falsified bank documents and property records to acquire more favorable loan terms, impacting payments from 2003–2019 for a Potomac, Maryland-based property,” Pulte wrote in the referral.

At the center of the allegations is Schiff’s repeated declaration of both his California and Maryland residences as “primary residences” on mortgage applications. This move would violate federal rules permitting only one primary residence designation at a time. The referral cites instances in 2009, 2011, and 2013 where Schiff refinanced his Maryland home while simultaneously identifying a California condominium as his principal residence.

According to the referral, this dual-claim arrangement was not corrected until 2020, when Schiff reclassified the Maryland property as a secondary residence.

“Primary residence mortgages receive more favorable loan terms, including lower interest rates, than secondary residence mortgages,” Pulte stated in the referral. He further alleged that Schiff financially benefited from these misrepresentations through more advantageous refinancing rates and a property tax reduction on his California home totaling approximately $7,000.

The referral also draws broader connections between Schiff’s alleged misconduct and ongoing concerns about mortgage fraud involving Democratic Party officials. It references explicitly related allegations involving New York Attorney General Letitia James.

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Hundreds of Migrants in Taxpayer-Funded Hotels Charged With Rape and Other Crimes.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Hundreds of asylum seekers housed in taxpayer-funded hotels have been charged with criminal offences, including rape, robbery, and theft, according to court records.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Migrants staying in 105 asylum hotels across the United Kingdom, with cases involving at least one in every 100 migrants appearing before magistrates this year.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The cases were monitored during the first six months of 2025 across courts in Britain.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Women are being raped and sexually assaulted and even police officers attacked. We just need to deport them all immediately upon arrival.” – Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp

🎯IMPACT: The findings highlight concerns over migrant crime, with calls for more deportations and stricter border control measures.

IN FULL

Court records reveal that at least 339 migrants housed in taxpayer-funded hotels have appeared before British magistrates so far this year, charged with offences ranging from rape and robbery to assault to theft. The data shows that at least one in every 100 migrants in these accommodations has faced court proceedings.

Among the cases, 29 were related to sexual crimes, including seven alleged rapes and one proven incident of exposure. A further 64 cases involved violence-related offences such as assault, grievous bodily harm (GBH), and possession of weapons. For instance, an Ethiopian migrant was remanded in custody after allegedly trying to kiss a 14-year-old schoolgirl just eight days after arriving in Britain.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticized the government’s handling of illegal immigration, stating, “Women are being raped and sexually assaulted and even police officers attacked. We just need to deport them all immediately upon arrival, whether to Rwanda or elsewhere.” He added that illegal immigrants crossing the Channel are “Twenty-four times more likely to wind up in prison than average.”

However, while illegal immigration has worsened under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party, the boat migrants crisis, initially exposed by Nigel Farage, began and steadily worsened under Philp’s Conservative Party, which governed from 2010 to mid-2024.

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U.S. Ambassador to Israel Threatens Visa Retaliation Over Mistreatment of Christians.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: A disagreement between U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and the Israeli authorities over delays in granting tourist visas to Christian groups has surfaced.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee, Israeli Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, and Christian organizations.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The dispute became public on July 18 after leaked correspondence was published by Israeli media.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It would be very unfortunate that our embassy would have to publicly announce throughout the United States that the State of Israel is no longer welcoming Christian organizations and their representatives,” Huckabee wrote.

🎯IMPACT: The incident highlights tensions between the U.S. and Israel, with potential implications for Christian pilgrims.

IN FULL

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has formally raised concerns with the Israeli government regarding delays in granting tourist visas to Christian groups. The issue came to light after Israeli media published details of Huckabee’s letter to Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, followed by Arbel’s official reply on July 18.

In his letter, Huckabee cautioned Israeli authorities that the continued holdups could lead to serious diplomatic consequences. “This is not the relationship Israel wants to have with its best partner and friend,” he wrote.

“It would be very unfortunate that our embassy would have to publicly announce throughout the United States that the State of Israel is no longer welcoming Christian organizations and their representatives and is instead engaging in harassment and negative treatment toward organizations with long-standing relationships and positive involvement toward Zionism and friendship to the Jewish people and the State of Israel,” Huckabee said. He also suggested that such delays could impact the ease with which Israelis obtain visas to the United States.

Interior Minister Arbel, affiliated with the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, wrote in his response, “In my view, this course of action deviates from accepted working norms and does not reflect the direct and constructive relationship we have established.”

These tensions emerge amid broader frustration among Christian groups toward Israel, particularly following recent controversial incidents. One such event involved a strike on the only Catholic church in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of three people. Another involved the fatal beating of a Palestinian-American Christian by extremist Jewish settlers—an incident Huckabee has publicly condemned.

There have also been several high-profile anti-Christian incidents in Israel in recent years, including the desecration of Christian graves, physical attacks on Christian clergy, spitting attacks, and vandalism of churches. Members of the current coalition government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have also tried to introduce legislation to criminalize Christians from evangelizing in the country, though it did not pass.

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Biden Judge Rules Trump’s Dismissal of FTC Democrats ‘Unconstitutional.’

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: A federal judge ruled President Donald J. Trump illegally fired two Democrat members of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) earlier this year.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, commissioners Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan, and attorneys for both sides.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling was issued Thursday in Washington, D.C., following the firings in March.

💬KEY QUOTE: “As the Court recognized today, the law is clear, and I look forward to getting back to work,” said Slaughter.

🎯IMPACT: The decision could affect the independence of other federal agencies, including the Federal Reserve.

IN FULL

A federal judge ruled that President Donald J. Trump did not have the constitutional authority to fire two Democrat commissioners from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) earlier this year. The ruling allows Rebecca Kelly Slaughter to resume her duties as commissioner, while Alvaro Bedoya had already resigned after filing suit to challenge the dismissals. Notably, the ruling appears to run counter to a stay order issued by the United States Supreme Court in Trump v. Wilcox, which lifted another lower court’s order preventing Trump’s removal of Biden appointees to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB).

In the ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Loren AliKhan—appointed by former President Joe Biden—cited a 1935 Supreme Court decision that limited the President’s ability to remove independent agency officials without cause. AliKhan stated the ruling upholds “clearly established law” and prevents the President from exerting unchecked control over so-called independent agencies. “As the Court recognized today, the law is clear, and I look forward to getting back to work,” said Slaughter following the ruling.

The Trump administration argued that the FTC’s expanded role in modern times justified direct presidential oversight. The FTC, created by Congress, enforces consumer protections and antitrust laws. Its commissioners typically consist of three members from the President’s party and two from the opposition, serving staggered seven-year terms. The lawsuit alleges Trump dismissed Bedoya and Slaughter because their views conflicted with his administration’s priorities.

The administration has signaled it intends to appeal AliKhan’s ruling.

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Third Biden Aide Invokes Fifth Amendment in Cognitive Decline Probe.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Annie Tomasini, a senior advisor and deputy chief of staff to former President Joe Biden, invoked the Fifth Amendment during a House Oversight deposition regarding Biden’s cognitive decline.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Annie Tomasini, House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-KY), and other Biden aides who also pleaded the Fifth.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The closed-door deposition occurred during the House Oversight Committee’s investigation on July 18, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “There is now a pattern of key Biden confidants seeking to shield themselves from criminal liability for this potential conspiracy,” said Rep. James Comer.

🎯IMPACT: Tomasini is the third senior Biden White House aide to plead the Fifth, raising further questions about the former presidential administration’s transparency regarding the octogenarian Biden’s health and whether he knew decisions were being authorized via autopen in his name.

IN FULL

Annie Tomasini, a senior advisor and deputy chief of staff to former President Joe Biden, pleaded the Fifth Amendment during a closed-door deposition, according to House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY). The former senior Biden White House aide had initially agreed to voluntarily participate in the deposition, but her attorney later reversed course and requested that the committee issue a subpoena. The deposition was slated to focus on Biden’s mental decline and allegations that presidential directives—including pardons—were issued without his knowledge.

“There is now a pattern of key Biden confidants seeking to shield themselves from criminal liability for this potential conspiracy,” Chairman Comer stated on X (formerly Twitter). Tomasini reportedly refused to answer questions about whether Biden or anyone at the White House instructed her to lie about his health, handle classified documents, or conceal information about Biden family business dealings.

Tomasini is the third Biden aide to invoke the Fifth Amendment in this investigation. The former chief of staff to former First Lady Jill Biden, Anthony Bernal, and former Biden White House physician Kevin O’Connor also declined to answer questions under oath earlier this month. The National Pulse has previously reported that Bernal and Tomasini comprised a “politburo” of aides who controlled the Biden White House and formed a protective bubble around Joe Biden.

Comer initially issued a subpoena to Tomasini, accusing her of “running interference” for Biden as concerns about his mental state grew. Notably, ousted Democratic National Committee (DNC) Vice Chairman David Hogg and Biden-era White House staffer Deterrian Jones were caught in a secret recording discussing the outsized influence of the cadre of senior White House aides, especially Tomasini and Bernal.

“The bigger issue was, like, the inner circle that was around Biden,” Hogg said, adding: “Like, Jill Biden’s chief of staff had an enormous amount of power.” Jones went on to describe Bernal, specifically, as a “scary… shadowy, Wizard of Oz type figure.”

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Pfizer COVID Vaccine Linked to Eye Damage.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Scientists in Turkey discovered that Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine may temporarily affect the cornea, potentially leading to vision issues if long-term changes occur.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Researchers in Turkey conducted the study, examining 64 patients who received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The study was published on Wednesday in the journal Ophthalmic Epidemiology, with data collected over approximately 75 days post-vaccination.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The endothelium should be closely monitored in those with a low endothelial count or who have had a corneal graft.” – Study authors

🎯IMPACT: Potential corneal swelling or blurry vision could arise in patients with pre-existing eye conditions or low endothelial cell counts.

IN FULL

Researchers have found that Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine may heighten the risk of eye damage by impacting the cornea, the transparent outer layer of the eye that permits light entry. A study in Turkey analyzed 64 vaccinated patients, assessing changes in their corneal endothelium—the cornea’s innermost layer—before and after receiving the vaccine.

The findings indicated that two doses of the Pfizer vaccine resulted in thicker corneas, reduced endothelial cell counts, and increased variability in cell size. Although no immediate vision issues were reported, the researchers cautioned that persistent changes could lead to corneal swelling or blurred vision, especially in those with pre-existing eye conditions or prior corneal transplants.

The study showed corneal thickness rising from 528 to 542 micrometers, approximately a two-percent increase. Endothelial cell density decreased from 2,597 to 2,378 cells per square millimeter, an eight-percent drop. While these values generally remained within normal limits, they could be concerning for individuals with already compromised cell counts due to aging, surgery, or disease.

Additionally, the study noted alterations in cell shape and size consistency, with fewer cells maintaining their typical hexagonal form, suggesting potential stress on the endothelium. The researchers advised, “The endothelium should be closely monitored in those with a low endothelial count or who have had a corneal graft.”

This research adds to prior concerns about mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, which have been associated with heart-related inflammatory conditions. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently required the addition of expanded warning labels to Pfizer and Moderna’s mRNA vaccines, noting the risks of myocarditis and pericarditis, particularly for young males.

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Radical Views of Suspect in Anti-ICE Sniper Ambush Uncovered.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents captured Benjamin Song, a suspect accused of shooting at U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers during a riot at the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, following an extensive manhunt.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Benjamin Song, 32, a former U.S. Marine Corps reservist, and law enforcement, including the FBI Dallas Field Office.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Song was captured on Tuesday, in Texas.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The FBI has worked tirelessly to arrest everyone associated with the shooting at the Prairieland Detention Center.” – FBI Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock

🎯IMPACT: Song faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault on a public servant, aiding terrorism, and engaging in organized crime, with a bond set at $15 million.

IN FULL

Benjamin Song, 32, was apprehended by the FBI Dallas Field Office on Tuesday following a manhunt that included a $25,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. Song is accused of shooting at federal officers during a riot at the Prairieland Detention Center in Texas on July 4. The ambush resulted in a local police officer being shot in the neck.

Song, a former U.S. Marine Corps reservist, apparently has a history of social media posts containing anti-police, anti-Israel, and anti-Trump rhetoric. His posts on X (formerly Twitter) under the handle @BubbleBreakBS include statements like “Do you want to end mass shooting? Abolish the police,” and attacks on both Republicans and Democrats, including President Donald J. Trump and former President Joe Biden.

A GoFundMe campaign tied to Song referenced his involvement in activism from Hong Kong to San Francisco and claimed he was a member of the Socialist Rifle Association. The campaign raised over $3,000 for his legal defense after a 2020 arrest on other charges.

According to the Facebook group, “Behind the Masks,” which documents the lives of those who participated in the Free Hong Kong Movement, “Ben Song, a 26-year-old Uber driver from Arlington, Texas who has been a political activist since he was 13, was moved by Hong Kong’s fight for freedom and flew from the US to show his support.” The group describes him as “half Korean and half Japanese” rather than Chinese, however.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently reported an 830 percent increase in assaults on ICE agents compared to last year. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem urged politicians to condemn violence against law enforcement, stating, “This new data reflects the violence against our law enforcement in cities across the country in the last few weeks.” Senior Democrats have been demonizing ICE for weeks, with Minnesota Governor and 2024 vice presidential candidate Tim Walz going so far as to compare them to Adolf Hitler’s Gestapo.

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Police Run Over Anti-Immigration Protester After Migrant Sex Attack.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Social media footage shows British police striking an anti-migration protester with their van amid protests against an asylum seeker accused of three counts of sexual assault.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Essex Police, anti-immigration protesters, far-left counter-protesters, Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incidents occurred in Epping, England, on July 17.

💬KEY QUOTE: “[W]e’ll make sure that those people feel the full force of the law,” Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper said of the protesters.

🎯IMPACT:  The protests are just part of a larger trend as local people across Europe demonstrate against migrant crime, with some demonstrations turning violent. 

IN FULL

An anti-immigration protester was run over by a British police van in Epping, England, during a demonstration against an alleged sexual assault committed by a migrant living at a local hotel at taxpayers’ expense. Police are also alleged to have directly aided leftist counter-protesters.

The incident took place on July 17 amid a protest outside the local Bell Hotel, where counter-protesters from the far-left group “Stand Up to Racism” were also present. According to footage posted on X, Essex Police not only mobilized to protect the leftist counter-protesters but also aided them by transporting them away in police vans.

Police say some protesters became violent when confronted by officers, with two arrests after men wearing masks allegedly assaulted eight officers. “[W]e’ll make sure that those people feel the full force of the law,” Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper said following the clashes. None of the officers sustained serious injuries.

Essex Police said that they not only saw resistance outside the Bell Hotel but were also confronted with “significant hostility” in Epping town center and were forced to call on London‘s Metropolitan Police and the British Transport Police (BTP) for aid.

The protests come after asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, was charged with three counts of sexual assault on July 17. A resident of the Bell Hotel, Kebatu, came illegally to the United Kingdom less than a month ago, on June 29.

The protests are part of a larger trend across Europe in which locals have become enraged to the point of violence over migration-background men sexually harassing or raping local girls and women, or committing other heinous crimes. In Northern Ireland, similar protests were seen in Ballymena last month after two teenage migrants allegedly tried to rape a local girl. At least 17 police officers were injured after being attacked by protesters, who also targeted the homes of migrants in the town.

Notably, British police tend to take a far more hands-off approach when dealing with Muslim, ethnic minority, and far-left protesters; allowing Muslims to riot in Birmingham last year on the basis that “community leaders” told them they could “police themselves,” for instance, and allowing climate extremists to block roads on multiple occasions.

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