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Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Category: Politics
14 hours ago
News
Politics

Trump Unhappy With Bondi’s Weak Execution of His Agenda: Report.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with Attorney General Pam Bondi’s performance, criticizing her as weak and ineffective in advancing his agenda.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Attorney General Bondi, and various administration officials and allies.

📍WHEN & WHERE: These criticisms have been ongoing in recent months, with discussions taking place at the White House and among Trump’s inner circle.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Folks are desperate for action and just haven’t seen it.” – WarRoom host Stephen K. Bannon.

🎯IMPACT: The tensions highlight ongoing challenges within the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the wider Trump administration regarding the execution of his agenda.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump has repeatedly expressed frustration with Attorney General Pam Bondi, according to reports, accusing her of not aggressively pursuing his legal and political priorities. The President wants the Department of Justice (DOJ) to act more forcefully on matters he considers crucial, and he is reportedly discussing appointing special counsels to do so, due to Bond’s perceived weakness as an enforcer.

Among his reported grievances are Bondi’s mishandling of cases involving former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, which were dismissed by judges. Trump has also expressed dissatisfaction with Bondi’s handling of FBI files related to deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, which has tied his administration to a scandal that previously tarnished the Democrats much more than the American right, given Epstein’s status as a Democrat donor close to the Clintons.

Despite these reports, the President has publicly defended Bondi, saying, “Pam is doing an excellent job. She has been my friend for many years. Tremendous progress is being made against radical left lunatics who are good at only one thing, cheating in elections, and the crimes they commit,” last week.

However, WarRoom host Stephen K. Bannon has stated that Bondi is bleeding support from the MAGA base and from Trump’s inner circle. “Folks are desperate for action and just haven’t seen it,” he said. Reports indicate that several high-profile lawyers have departed Bondi’s DOJ, citing frustration with her management and perceived inefficiency in handling key cases.

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18 hours ago
William Upton
Politics

New Congressional Minibus Contains Millions in Anti-Trump Deep State Funding.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The United States Congress has released its Financial Services and General Government and National Security and State “minibus”—with mirror drafts authored by the House and Senate Appropriations Committees.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Congress, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), the Helsinki Commission, and Belize.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The minibus legislation was released on Sunday, January 11, 2026, with funding provisions being exposed over subsequent days.

🎯IMPACT: The legislation includes significant funding for globalist deep state entities like the National Endowment for Democracy and the Helsinki Commission, along with several million dollars for infrastructure projects in Belize.

IN FULL

The United States Congress has released its Financial Services and General Government and National Security and State “minibus”—with mirror drafts authored by the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. Concerningly, the legislation includes significant funding for globalist deep state entities like the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and the Helsinki Commission, along with several million dollars for infrastructure projects in Belize.

A congressional minibus is essentially smaller omnibus legislation that includes funding for several government departments and agencies, and is often prone to being filled with unpopular spending that would otherwise not pass as a standalone bill. In this case, the latest minibus contains $315 million for the NED, a quasi-autonomous non-governmental organization (NGO) with a long history of targeting conservative journalists and media outlets.

In February last year, anti-Trump neoconservatives were up in arms over the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) moving to freeze funds for NED. The National Pulse reported at the time that many conservative leaders in the United States and around the world contended that NED squanders funds on undermining right-leaning governments in allied nations, such as Hungary, while boosting leftist media and politicians.

The minibus bill also provides reauthorization for the Helsinki Commission—an independent government agency created in 1975 and tasked with monitoring compliance with the Helsinki Accords. However, the agency has morphed over the years into an entity that promotes color revolutions and unauthorized election interference operations in foreign nations. Additionally, the Helsinki Commission has become a key roost for a number of anti-Trump Russia hoax conspiracy theorists, including former John Brennan aide Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Sir William Browder KCMG, and the leftist Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project’s (OCCRP) Drew Sullivan.

Notably, Browder is a staunch proponent of seizing Russian assets outside of normal government procedures—which could trigger significant backlash—and has routinely accused figures like Donald Trump Jr. and Vice President J.D. Vance of parroting Kremlin talk points. Further, the Helsinki Commission maintains ties to Ukrainian propagandist Illia Ponomarenko and former U.S. Congressman Adam Kinzinger, who has become one of the top Russia conspiracy theorists on social media.

Aside from the direct funding and authorization of NGOs that aim to undermine President Donald J. Trump‘s agenda, the minibus also contains, inexplicably, $5.7 million in funds—ostensibly through the now-defunct USAID—for infrastructure projects in Belize. This funding was likely inserted as an earmark request by lawmakers after USAID itself was dissolved, with its key functions being absorbed by the U.S. Department of State.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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19 hours ago
William Upton
Politics

Clintons Defy Congressional Subpoena for Testimony on Epstein.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Former President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary Clinton, have both refused to comply with a congressional subpoena compelling their testimony before the House Oversight Committee’s inquiry into the activities of deceased pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, attorneys for the Clintons, the House Oversight Committee, Chairman James Comer (R-KY), Congressman Tim Burchett (R-TN), deceased pedophile and financier Jeffrey Epstein, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Supreme Court.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The Clintons were scheduled to testify on Tuesday and Wednesday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I hope there might be some charges over at [the Department of Justice].” — Rep. Tim Burchett

🎯IMPACT: The rejection of the congressional subpoena is likely to be the subject of a DOJ criminal referral and extensive litigation regarding the Supreme Court’s decisions in Watkins v. United States and Trump v. United States.

IN FULL

Former President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary Clinton, have both refused to comply with a congressional subpoena compelling their testimony before the House Oversight Committee’s inquiry into the activities of deceased pedophile and financier Jeffrey Epstein. The testimony was slated for Tuesday and Wednesday; however, an attorney representing the Clintons stated that neither would appear before the House panel and argued that the congressional subpoena is “legally unenforceable.”

The refusal to testify and rejection of the congressional subpoena could set up a contempt of Congress showdown between House Republicans and the Clintons, with a possible criminal referral to the Department of Justice (DOJ). “President and Secretary Clinton have already provided the limited information they possess about Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell to the Committee,” the Clinton attorneys’ letter to Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) reads. “They did so proactively and voluntarily, and despite the fact that the Subpoenas are invalid and legally unenforceable, untethered to a valid legislative purpose, unwarranted because they do not seek pertinent information, and an unprecedented infringement on the separation of powers.”

“Your continued insistence that the former President and Secretary of State can be compelled to appear before the Committee under these circumstances, however, brings us toward a protracted and unnecessary legal confrontation that distracts from the principal work of the Congress with respect to this matter, which, if conducted sincerely, could help ensure the victims of Mr. Epstein and Ms. Maxwell are afforded some measure of justice for the crimes perpetrated against them, however late,” the letter adds.

The Clintons’ attorney cites the Supreme Court‘s Watkins decision, which states, “These are functions of the executive and judicial departments of government. No inquiry is an end in itself; it must be related to, and in furtherance of, a legitimate task of the Congress.” The attorneys contend that the House inquiry is not related to legislative business and, therefore, the subpoenas are unenforceable.

However, not all members of the House Oversight Committee agree with the legal analysis provided by the attorneys for the Clintons. Congressman Tim Burchett (R-TN) stated, “I hope there might be some charges over at [DOJ].”

Further, the Supreme Court has been clear that former presidents do not enjoy blanket immunity for their actions, and the Watkins decision on its face appears intended to apply to Congressional subpoenas involving current and not former members of the executive and judicial branches, suggesting the argument of the attorneys for Bill and Hillary Clinton—neither of whom currently holds office—is a stretch at best.

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January 12, 2026
News
Politics

‘Seditious’ Senator Mark Kelly Just Filed a Lawsuit Against Pete Hegseth, Here’s Why:

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) is suing the War Department and War Secretary Pete Hegseth over actions to demote him and cut his retirement pay.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Sen. Mark Kelly, War Secretary Pete Hegseth, the Navy, the Department of War, and Navy Secretary John Phelan.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The lawsuit was filed in Washington, D.C., with recent actions stemming from a November video released by Kelly and fellow Democrats.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Six weeks ago, Senator Mark Kelly—and five other members of Congress—released a reckless and seditious video that was clearly intended to undermine good order and military discipline.” — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth

🎯IMPACT: The Department of War contends that Kelly’s current status as a U.S. senator does not exempt him from accountability.

IN FULL

U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) filed a federal lawsuit on Monday against the Department of War and War Secretary Pete Hegseth over action to demote him and cut his retirement pay after Kelly urged military service members to “refuse illegal orders” in a video with other Democratic lawmakers. Notably, neither Kelly—a retired U.S. Navy officer—nor his colleagues actually defined what would constitute an “illegal order,” spurring allegations that the video was intended to encourage unlawful dissent in the military.

Filed in Washington, D.C., the lawsuit names Sec. Hegseth, the Department of War, the U.S. Navy, and Navy Secretary John Phelan as defendants. Sen. Kelly claims these actions are politically motivated and tied to a feud with the Trump administration.

In November last year, Kelly joined five other Democratic lawmakers, dubbed the “Seditious Six,” in a video telling service members that they were obligated to refuse illegal orders. Following this, Hegseth issued a letter censuring Kelly, stating that his remarks undermined good order and discipline within the military.

“Six weeks ago, Senator Mark Kelly—and five other members of Congress—released a reckless and seditious video that was clearly intended to undermine good order and military discipline,” Hegseth said earlier this month, adding: “The Department of War—and the American people—expect justice.” The Department of War clarified that Kelly’s current status as a U.S. senator does not exempt him from accountability. Further violations could lead to additional actions.

Following the formal censure in early January, Kelly was given 30 days to respond, prompting the current lawsuit.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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January 12, 2026
Politics

Florida Lt. Gov Jay Collins Enters Wide-Open GOP Primary for Governor.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Florida Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins (R) announced his candidacy for governor on Monday, joining the race to succeed Governor Ron DeSantis (R), who is term-limited.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, Gov. Ron DeSantis, U.S. Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL), former Florida House Republican Speaker Paul Renner, and James Fishback.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announcement made on Monday; the Florida gubernatorial election is in November 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I’m running for Governor to keep Florida strong and to build on the legacy of leadership that has made our state the model for the nation.” – Jay Collins

🎯IMPACT: Collins enters a competitive GOP primary field, vowing to continue DeSantis’ legacy and back President Donald J. Trump’s America First agenda.

IN FULL

Florida Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins (R) has officially announced his candidacy for governor, entering the race to replace current Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL), who is term-limited. Collins, a former Green Beret, emphasized his leadership experience in his announcement.

“I’m running for Governor because leadership is forged under pressure, not in soundbites. I served over 23 years in the United States military, mainly as a Green Beret, where accountability is real, decisions have consequences, and service comes before self,” Collins said in a statement, adding: “That experience shaped how I lead and why I believe public office is a public trust.”

Collins, who was appointed lieutenant governor by DeSantis in August, referred to his partnership with the current governor in advancing a “bold, conservative agenda.” He stated, “In the Legislature and as Lieutenant Governor, I’ve worked alongside Governor Ron DeSantis to deliver results and advance a bold, conservative agenda. I did not come to chase headlines. I came to deliver results.”

The GOP primary for the gubernatorial race is shaping up to be competitive, with other contenders including Trump-backed U.S. Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL), former Florida House Republican Speaker Paul Renner, and former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) advisor James Fishback. Collins also expressed his intent to be a “strong partner” for President Donald J. Trump, aligning his platform with the America First agenda.

“As Governor, I will be a strong partner to President Trump in fighting for secure borders, a strong economy, and an America First agenda that puts families and freedom first. This moment demands discipline, courage, and leaders willing to do what is right, even when it is hard. I am ready to lead. I am ready to Keep Florida Strong!” Collins declared.

When his appointment as Lieutenant Governor was announced, Collins faced backlash over allegations that a nonprofit group he had worked with since 2018 had mandated diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies and requirements for employees and contractors, with Governor DeSantis defending him against accusations that he is “woke.”

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January 9, 2026
News
Politics

MTG Was Referred to Secret Service After CCP-Linked Leftists Crashed Trump’s Dinner, Here’s Why:

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: White House officials suspect former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) tipped off far-left agitators who crashed President Donald J. Trump’s dinner at a D.C. restaurant about his plans, referring her to the United States Secret Service.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, former Rep. Greene, Code Pink protesters, and White House staffers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Last September, at Joe’s Seafood in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Anyone saying this is true is absolutely lying!!!” – Marjorie Taylor Greene

🎯IMPACT: The incident has intensified tensions between Trump and Greene, fueling existing intra-party disputes.

IN FULL

White House officials believe former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) may have alerted leftist activists linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) about President Donald J. Trump’s dinner plans last September, after protesters confronted the President at a Washington, D.C., restaurant he was visiting. The incident took place at Joe’s Seafood, a restaurant Greene had personally recommended to Trump, and White House staffers referred her to the Secret Service following the incident.

During the meal, activists affiliated with Code Pink came close to the President and heckled him, shouting, “Free DC.! Free Palestine! Trump is the Hitler of our time!” Aides later described the scene as embarrassing and deeply troubling from a security standpoint.

Greene allegedly contacted White House staff repeatedly on the day of the dinner to confirm Trump’s plans, and Trump himself is said to have called Greene shortly before leaving the White House to confirm he was going to Joe’s Seafood. Although Greene was known to frequent the restaurant, she did not attend the dinner, something aides found unusual.

Greene and Code Pink co-founder Medea Benjamin share opposition to U.S. military aid to Ukraine and Israel. Benjamin has publicly praised Greene in the past for opposing Trump’s striking of Iranian nuclear sites, and she met the former Georgia lawmaker along with other Code Pink activists shortly before she left Congress.

Greene has forcefully denied the accusations, insisting that she did not know Trump’s exact dinner plans. “Code Pink was in the restaurant because the WH and Secret Service did NOT sweep Joe’s, did NOT set up metal detectors and check everyone in the restaurant, and did not do any of their normal security protocols that they do at every public event he attends!!! Only the WH set up President Trump’s reservation at Joe’s, NOT ME!! I had ZERO knowledge of when his reservation was!” she wrote in a long X (formerly Twitter) post, characterizing claims that she leaked the dinner plans as “a dangerous false accusation against me that is 100% false… Anyone saying this is true is absolutely lying!!!”

Greene also denied having Medea Benjamin’s telephone number, insisting, “[I] do not have any contact with her. She used to stop by my office as she stops by every office on Capitol hill.”

The incident has further strained the relationship between Trump and Greene, who was once one of his allies in Congress. In November, Trump commented on their falling out, saying, “Yeah, so I don’t know what happened to Marjorie. She’s a nice woman, but I don’t know what happened. She’s lost her way, I think.”

Greene has also drawn attention for threatening to expose what she called “all Congress’s dirty laundry.” More recently, she criticized Trump after he referred to her as a “traitor,” claiming that such language put her personal safety at risk.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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January 9, 2026
Data
Politics

Trump’s Approval Rises Among Young Men.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump’s approval rating among young men—a key demographic for Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections—has shown an increase, according to recent polling data.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Gen Z male voters, and polling organizations such as YouGov and Reuters/Ipsos.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Data from December 2025 to January 2026, covering national polls conducted across the United States.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The polls are rigged even more than the writers. The real number is 64 percent, and why not, our Country is ‘hotter’ than ever before.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: The trend hints at a potential improvement in Republicans’ fortunes in the 2026 midterm elections, if the upward trajectory continues.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump’s approval among young male voters is once again on the rise, according to recent polling data from organizations such as YouGov and Reuters/Ipsos. This demographic, particularly Gen Z males, has shown a notable improvement in their perception of the President’s job performance over the past few months, suggesting possibly improving fortunes for Republicans ahead of the 2026 congressional midterm elections.

Data from The Economist/YouGov shows that Trump’s approval among men aged 18-29 increased by four percentage points, from 26 percent to 30 percent, while disapproval dropped from 69 percent to 62 percent over the course of three successive polls. Similarly, his overall approval among all men rose from 44 percent in December 2025 to 47 percent in early January 2026.

Despite these gains, Trump continues to face challenges with younger voters as a whole, with his approval ratings in this group remaining relatively low. The Harvard Youth Poll conducted in November 2025 found that 32 percent of Gen Z males approved of his performance, while 62 percent disapproved.

“The polls are rigged even more than the writers. The real number is 64 percent, and why not, our Country is ‘hotter’ than ever before,” President Trump wrote on Truth Social in response to the polling data. He added, “Isn’t it nice to have a STRONG BORDER, No Inflation, a powerful Military, and great Economy??? Happy New Year!”

Experts suggest that as Gen Z voters advance in their careers and begin to prioritize issues like inflation, healthcare, and mortgage rates, both parties will need to adjust their strategies to engage this increasingly influential demographic. Trump’s improved standing among men signals potential opportunities for Republican gains in the 2026 midterm elections if the trend persists. Currently, the GOP holds a narrow majority in the House of Representatives, with a more robust majority in the Senate.

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January 8, 2026
William Upton
Politics

Chuck Schumer Is Trying to Sneak Money for This Far-Left Group Into the HHS Funding Bill.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is attempting to sneak $500,000 in funding for the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) into the Health and Human Services (HHS) appropriations bill.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the NDWA, NDWA founder and Democrat Party activist Ai-jen Poo, NDWA director and Black Lives Matter (BLM) co-founder Alicia Garza, and NDWA executive director and BLM activist Jenn Stowe.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The appropriations process is ongoing, with the earmark revealed on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.

🎯IMPACT: While proponents of the Congressional Direct Spending (CDS) process often contend that the money does not fund radical political agendas, critics are correct that the fungibility of funds means that a far-left group receiving grants can subsequently redirect other resources to their radical political causes.

IN FULL

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is attempting to sneak $500,000 in funding for the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA)—a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy group founded by far-left activists tied to the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, Planned Parenthood, and social justice radicals—into the Health and Human Services (HHS) appropriations bill. Notably, the nonprofit group is currently running a lobbying effort against the Republican-backed Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would amend current federal voter laws to help prevent noncitizens from casting ballots in federal elections.

While the spending request—formally known as a Congressional Direct Spending (CDS) request—has been submitted by Schumer’s office, it has not yet been approved for inclusion in the HHS funding bill. The CDS—sometimes categorized as an earmark—would be funded through grants from the HHS. While proponents of the CDS process often contend that the money does not fund radical political agendas, critics are correct that the fungibility of funds means that a far-left group receiving grants can subsequently redirect other resources to their radical political causes.

The NDWA, while not an actual organized labor organization, models itself as such a group and claims to advocate for the “rights of domestic workers” in the United States. According to the nonprofit group, these laborers predominantly include immigrants and “people of color.” Notably, the NDWA was founded in 2007 by the Taiwanese-American Democrat Party activist Ai-jen Poo, who has long been considered a potential nominee for Secretary of Labor, favored by more radical progressive political leaders. Poo has long-standing ties with Planned Parenthood’s late president Cecile Richards, with whom she co-founded the electioneering group Supermajority aimed to mobilize women voters before the 2020 election.

Alongside Poo is Alicia Garza, who serves as the NDWA’s Director of Strategy and Partnerships. Garza is probably best known for co-founding the Black Lives Matter movement, which saw several iterations and leaders embezzle millions of dollars of donor money for personal use. Another BLM activist, Jenn Stowe, with close ties to progressive Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), serves as the group’s executive director.

It should be noted that while not all CDS requests are included in finalized appropriations legislation or funded, constituent support or disapproval can often have a tremendous impact on the committee’s decisions regarding which earmarks are accepted and which are not. Additionally, the NDWA’s overtly political activities as a 501(c)(3) organization could draw scrutiny from the IRS, whose rules place strict limits on lobbying activities and stipulate that such actions cannot constitute a “substantial” part of an organization’s advocacy.

Image via Jewish Democratic Council of America.

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January 8, 2026
Politics
World

The U.S. Is Exiting 66 Global Organizations Opposed to American Interests.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced the withdrawal of the U.S. from 66 international organizations deemed contrary to American interests.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the Trump Cabinet.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on Wednesday, with Rubio posting on X (formerly Twitter) the same day.

💬KEY QUOTE: “These withdrawals keep a key promise President Trump made to Americans – we will stop subsidizing globalist bureaucrats who act against our interests.” – Marco Rubio

🎯IMPACT: The decision highlights a focus on ending financial support for organizations seen as wasteful or harmful to U.S. sovereignty and interests.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump has ordered the United States to withdraw from 66 international organizations that his administration has determined hold interests contrary to those of America, including 31 United Nations (UN) entities. Late Wednesday, the President signed a memo citing a report compiled by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which examined all international intergovernmental organizations to which the U.S. belongs, along with international conventions and treaties, and identified those with aims in conflict with U.S. policies.

The America First leader, after reviewing the Secretary of State’s report, determined that the U.S. should withdraw from many organizations. “Today, President Trump announced the U.S. is leaving 66 anti-American, useless, or wasteful international organizations. Review of additional international organizations remains ongoing,” Sec. Rubio wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter) following the decision. He explained, “These withdrawals keep a key promise President Trump made to Americans – we will stop subsidizing globalist bureaucrats who act against our interests. The Trump Administration will always put America and Americans first.”

The Secretary of State, in a statement, explained, “The Trump Administration has found these institutions to be redundant in their scope, mismanaged, unnecessary, wasteful, poorly run, captured by the interests of actors advancing their own agendas contrary to our own, or a threat to our nation’s sovereignty, freedoms, and general prosperity.”

“President Trump is clear: It is no longer acceptable to be sending these institutions the blood, sweat, and treasure of the American people, with little to nothing to show for it. The days of billions of dollars in taxpayer money flowing to foreign interests at the expense of our people are over,” he added.

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January 7, 2026
NatSec
Politics

Who is Morgan Ortagus, and Why MAGA Cares About Her Divorce and Foreign National Fiancée.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Morgan Ortagus—one of the least trusted foreign policy officials in the Trump administration due to her fervent neoconservative views, ties to the Deep State, and past public criticism of the President’s America First agenda—has separated from her husband and entered a relationship with Lebanese banking tycoon Antoun Sehnaoui, according to divorce filings.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Morgan Ortagus, her estranged husband Jonathan Weinberger, and Lebanese financier Antoun Sehnaoui.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The separation was filed in November 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee, with initial details of the new relationship emerging in December 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: The divorce petition, filed by Weinberger, cites “irreconcilable differences” for the separation.

🎯IMPACT: The revelation of Ortagus’s divorce and subsequent relationship with Sehnaoui—a foreign national—raises ethical and security concerns regarding her current role as Counselor at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations.

IN FULL

Divorce records have now confirmed that Morgan Ortagus—a former State Department press official in the first Trump administration and current Counselor at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations—has separated from her husband, Jonathan Weinberger, and entered into a relationship with controversial Lebanese banking mogul and film producer Antoun Sehnaoui. The divorce petition, filed by Weinberger in November 2025, cites “irreconcilable differences” as the grounds for the divorce.

During President Donald J. Trump‘s first term, Ortagus served a brief tenure as the Spokesman for the United States Department of State under then-Secretary Mike Pompeo.

The National Pulse has previously reported on a number of concerning details regarding Ortagus, including a revelation that she attempted to leverage her friendship with Democratic Party foreign policy figures to secure a role in the former Biden government. Emails obtained by The National Pulse show Ortagus pledged to “faithfully serve the Biden administration” in a goodbye email sent to State Department colleagues.

In a private 2021 email, Ortagus  stated that Ned Price, her replacement tapped by former President Biden, was “fantastic,” and that she decided to seek a continued role at the State Department “no matter what happened with the election.”

Before joining the Trump administration, Ortagus co-founded Global Opportunity Advisors—a consultancy firm—alongside her “best friend,” Samantha Vinograd, a former foreign policy adviser to the Biden and Obama governments and a CNN contributor with an extensive history of criticizing President Trump, including comparing the America First leader to Adolf Hitler.

Meanwhile, during Ortagus’s short-lived 2022 congressional run in Tennessee, she aligned herself with several outspoken anti-Trump GOP figures, including former Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey, Jeb Bush foreign policy advisor John Noonan, disgraced former State Department official Gabriel Noronha, and former Republican National Committee (RNC) chief counsel Charlie Spies, who was fired after just months on the job and was revealed to maintain close ties with infamous Democrat election fixer and attorney Marc Elias. The National Pulse reported that Ortagus quickly scrubbed all references to President Trump from her campaign website as her congressional bid collapsed.

During the 2024 presidential primary, Ortagus backed Pompeo, Mike Pence, and Nikki Haley in succession against Trump for the Republican nomination. Despite numerous instances of backing efforts aimed at undermining the President and his America First foreign policy, Ortagus was welcomed back into the second Trump administration—first as a deputy to Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff and now as Counselor at the U.S. Mission to the UN.

Weinberger and Ortagus were wed in 2013 in a ceremony presided over by the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a prominent left-wing jurist. However, her new romantic partner is likely to draw significantly more controversy. Sehnaoui has faced a number of legal battles over his career, including allegations that his bank provided material support to Hezbollah—an accusation he denies.

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