WASHINGTON (FNN) – Tensions escalated between The Associated Press (AP) and Trump’s White House Tuesday during a heated exchange between White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and AP reporter Josh Boak.

During the briefing, Mr. Boak questioned President Trump’s economic policies, claiming his proposed tariffs amounted to tax hikes on Americans. However, Ms. Leavitt pushed back on that assertion.

“He’s actually not implementing tax hikes. Tariffs are a tax hike on foreign countries that, again, have been ripping us off. Tariffs are a tax cut for the American people,” Ms. Leavitt said firmly.

She further defended President Trump’s economic agenda, emphasizing his commitment to eliminating:

• Taxes on tips
• Taxes on overtime
• Taxes on Social Security benefits

“He is committed to all three of those things, and he expects Congress to pass them later,” she added.

Mr. Boak pressed further, asking, “Have you ever paid a tariff? Because I have. They don’t get charged on companies; they get charged on the imports.”

In response, Ms. Leavitt countered, “And ultimately, when we have fair and balanced trade, which the American people have not seen in decades, revenues will stay here, wages will go up, and our country will be made wealthy again.”

The confrontation revealed the ongoing rift between the White House and the AP, particularly after the AP was barred from some press events for refusing to adopt the White House’s requested terminology of renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the ‘Gulf of America’ in its widely used AP Stylebook.

Despite this strained relationship, Ms. Leavitt still called on the wire service during Tuesday’s press briefing, which led to the fiery exchange.

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What’s Next for AP?

The AP has yet to respond to the White House’s renewed pressure on terminology changes. Media analysts predict the standoff could intensify as the administration continues its push to redefine traditional media language.

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J Willie David, III
Florida National News and FNN News Network
News@FloridaNationalNews.com

WASHINGTON (FNN) – President Donald Trump has signed a new Executive Order aimed at restoring the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, the White House announced Friday. The order outlines key changes to the program, particularly restricting forgiveness for individuals employed by organizations deemed to engage in activities that threaten national security, public safety, or violate U.S. law.

Background on PSLF Reform

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, established by Congress in 2007, was designed to encourage Americans to work in public service by forgiving student loans after ten years of qualifying employment and payments. However, the Trump administration argues that the previous administration’s handling of the program resulted in misuse of taxpayer funds, with loan forgiveness being granted prematurely and in ways that do not align with the program’s original purpose.

According to the Executive Order, certain nonprofit organizations have received PSLF benefits despite engaging in activities that allegedly harm national security, facilitate illegal immigration, or violate state laws. The administration asserts that such misuse of PSLF funds has led to increased tuition costs, financial instability for students, and misallocation of federal resources.

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Key Provisions of the Executive Order

Under the new order, the Department of Education will propose regulatory revisions to ensure that PSLF eligibility excludes organizations engaging in illegal or harmful activities. Specifically, individuals working for entities involved in the following activities will no longer qualify for loan forgiveness:

• Aiding or abetting violations of U.S. immigration laws (e.g., supporting illegal immigration).
• Supporting terrorism or criminal organizations, including cartels.
• Engaging in child abuse, including medical procedures related to gender identity in minors.
• Participating in illegal discrimination practices.
• Violating state laws on trespassing, vandalism, or public disturbances.

The administration argues that excluding these organizations from PSLF eligibility will redirect taxpayer funds toward legitimate public service sectors, such as law enforcement, healthcare, and education.

Takeaways from the Executive Order

• The PSLF program will continue for eligible public service workers but with stricter oversight.
• Organizations found to engage in criminal or illegal activities will no longer be eligible for PSLF benefits.
• The Department of Education will work with the Treasury Department to revise regulations under 34 C.F.R. 685.219.
• The Executive Order emphasizes national security and public safety concerns as a key justification for the policy shift.

What Happens Next?

The Department of Education will begin drafting regulatory changes to reflect the new PSLF guidelines, which may require public comment and legal review before final implementation. Advocacy groups and public service organizations are expected to challenge these restrictions, potentially leading to legal disputes over the scope of PSLF eligibility.

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J Willie David, III
Florida National News and FNN News Network
News@FloridaNationalNews.com

WASHINGTON (FNN) – A House Oversight Committee hearing descended into chaos Tuesday when Chairman James Comer (R-KY) threatened to have Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) forcibly removed for calling President Donald Trump a “grifter” and referring to Elon Musk as “President Musk.”

During his speaking time, Frost labeled Trump the “grifter-in-chief” and accused both him and Musk of using their positions to “enrich themselves to the tune of billions of dollars.”

“So if we wanna look at waste, fraud, and abuse — which I’m down to do — why is there complete silence on the other side of the aisle about looking at the complete grifter that is the President of the United States,” Frost said. “And the richest man on the Earth, which is looking into things like social security and different things like that? Why don’t we investigate the real corruption?”

The hearing became heated as multiple committee members talked over one another. Comer restored order and asked Frost to “revise” his remarks, asserting that Frost had “improperly” identified Trump.

Frost doubled down by referring to the two men as “President Musk” and “grifter-in-chief Trump.” The comment led to more cross-talking and outrage among committee members, with Comer demanding decorum.

Frost then clarified his remarks: “President of the United States Donald Trump, who’s engaged in grifting of the American people.”

Comer cited a “pending motion for disparaging the president” as Frost continued his accusations.

“I can say that Trump is grifting!” Frost asserted. “What I will withdraw is calling him ‘grifter-in-chief.’ That is what I will withdraw.”

Comer ordered Frost’s comments to be “stricken from the transcript” and barred him from speaking for the rest of the hearing.

When Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) attempted to defend Frost, Comer interrupted her, shouting “Skip her! Go to the next one!”

Frost, later allowed to speak again, criticized the committee’s efforts to silence him, calling it “despicable.” As his microphone was cut off, Frost gathered his belongings and continued speaking.

Comer issued a stern warning: “Mister ranking member, I am going to have the sergeant at arms remove him if he doesn’t refrain!”

Frost’s defiance and Comer’s reaction highlighted the stark partisan divide within the committee and underscored the intense scrutiny surrounding Trump and Musk’s influence.