Politics
First Lady: Son Barron Had Coronavirus, But No Symptoms
Published
6 years agoon
WASHINGTON (AP) — Melania Trump said Wednesday that her and the president’s teenage son, Barron, tested positive for the coronavirus not long after his parents, but had no symptoms. She made the revelation in a including being hit with a “roller coaster” of symptoms that she treated naturally with vitamins and healthy food.
Mrs. Trump said she is now negative and hopes to resume her duties soon.
After she and President Donald Trump tested positive earlier this month, the White House said 14-year-old Barron had tested negative. Barron later tested positive for the virus but had no symptoms, she said Wednesday, adding that he has since tested negative again.
The president, speaking at a campaign rally Wednesday night in Iowa, was cavalier about Barron’s infection, saying, “He had it for such a short period of time, I don’t even think he knew that he had it.”
“Barron is just fine,” Trump added, using his son’s quick recovery as part of his pitch to reopen schools. “It happens. People have it and it goes. Get the kids back to school. We’ve got to get the kids back to school.”
Mrs. Trump shared that after she and her husband first received their positive results, “naturally, my mind went immediately to our son.” She said she was relieved when he tested negative at first, but kept thinking about what would happen in the days to come.
“My fear came true when he was tested again and it came up positive,” the first lady wrote in a statement released to social media.
Sounding a bit like the president, the first lady said she was “glad the three of us went through this at the same time so we could take care of one another and spend time together.”
President Trump has called his bout with COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, a “.” He was hospitalized for three days and treated with various therapies and drugs, including steroids, supplemental oxygen and an experimental antibody treatment.
Mrs. Trump did not explain why Barron’s positive diagnosis was not made public earlier, but she has fiercely protected the ninth-grader’s privacy.
As for her own trials with the disease, the first lady said she was “fortunate” to have had minimal symptoms, “though they hit me all at once and it seemed to be a roller coaster of symptoms in the days after.”
She described body aches, a cough and headaches and said she felt extremely tired most of the time.
To treat it, “I chose to go a more natural route in terms of medicine, opting more for vitamins and healthy food,” she said.
The first lady praised the care provided by Navy Cmdr. Sean Conley, the White House physician, and his team, and said it was an “unfamiliar feeling” to be the patient.
“It was me being taken care of now, and getting first-hand experience with all that COVID-19 can do,” she said. The disease has killed more than 216,000 people in the U.S. and caused nearly 7.9 million infections here, according to the latest count from Johns Hopkins University.
Democrat Joe Biden has made President Trump’s response to the coronavirus pandemic an issue in the presidential campaign.
Most coronavirus patients suffer mild to moderate symptoms and recover quickly, typically anywhere from two to six weeks, according to the World Health Organization, though older, sicker patients tend to take longer to get well.
Mrs. Trump acknowledged her family was “fortunate” to have received “the kind of care that we did.” She added, “If you are sick, or if you have a loved one who is sick — I am thinking of you and will be thinking of you every day.”
Politics
Vice President JD Vance to Visit Milwaukee, Discuss Trump Administration’s Anti-Fraud Efforts
Published
3 days agoon
July 6, 2026
WASHINGTON (FNN NEWS) — Vice President JD Vance will travel to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, where he is scheduled to deliver remarks on the Trump administration’s efforts to combat fraud, according to a White House press release.
Politics
Five Charged in Florida EBT Fraud Case; Two Illegal Aliens Among Defendants, Attorney General Says
Published
3 days agoon
July 6, 2026
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN NEWS) — James Uthmeier announced today that five individuals have been charged in connection with an organized scheme to defraud Florida’s public assistance program by using stolen Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card information and personal identifying information (PII) to obtain taxpayer-funded benefits.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, the investigation was conducted by the Orlando Police Department and involves an alleged fraud operation that spanned Orange County and Seminole County.
“Florida is not going to tolerate organized schemes that steal taxpayer-funded benefits intended for Florida families,” Uthmeier said in a statement.
“We will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to identify every individual connected to this scheme and hold them accountable.”
Investigation Details
Investigators allege the defendants used stolen personal identifying information and EBT card data belonging to numerous victims to purchase high-resale merchandise, including:
- Monster energy drinks
- Red Bull energy drinks
- Coffee
- Bottled water
- Other retail goods
Authorities allege the merchandise was later resold for cash, diverting taxpayer-funded nutritional assistance intended for eligible Florida families.
Defendants Charged
The five defendants are:
- Carlos Ruben Gomez Jimenez
- Maite Lazara Mesa Labrada
- Carlos Luis Diaz Jimenez
- Enrique Gonzalez
- Luis Gonzalez Dominguez
According to the Attorney General’s Office, immigration records indicate that Gomez Jimenez and Mesa Labrada entered the United States unlawfully in 2024.
Criminal Charges
All five defendants are charged with:
- Organized Scheme to Defraud (less than $20,000)
- Public Assistance Fraud ($200 or more but less than $20,000)
Additional charges include:
- Gomez Jimenez, Mesa Labrada and Diaz Jimenez are charged with Criminal Use of Personal Identification Information involving EBT accounts belonging to 10 or more individuals.
- Dominguez is charged with Criminal Use of Personal Identification Information.
- Diaz Jimenez and Enrique Gonzalez are also charged with Dealing in Stolen Property.
Potential Sentences
According to prosecutors:
- Carlos Luis Diaz Jimenez faces up to 40 years in prison.
- Carlos Ruben Gomez Jimenez, Maite Lazara Mesa Labrada and Enrique Gonzalez each face up to 25 years in prison.
- Luis Gonzalez Dominguez faces up to 15 years in prison.
Additionally, Gomez Jimenez, Mesa Labrada and Diaz Jimenez face mandatory minimum sentences of three years if convicted of Criminal Use of Personal Identification Information involving 10 or more victims.
Investigation Remains Active
The Attorney General’s Office said the investigation remains active and ongoing. Additional arrests or charges may be filed as investigators continue to identify others connected to the alleged fraud scheme.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Counsel for Public Assistance Fraud Scott Strauss in Florida’s Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida.
Central Florida News
Orange County Commission District 3 Lawsuit Set for July 10 Hearing, Candidate Randy Ross Says
Published
3 days agoon
July 6, 2026
Florida National News learned of the July 10 court date following a press conference held by Ross and later received a news release from his campaign announcing the scheduled hearing.
Lawsuit Challenges Election Process
Ross filed the lawsuit after challenging the application of Florida’s resign-to-run law following Orange County Commissioner Mayra Uribe’s decision to seek another elected office.
“This lawsuit has never been about me,” Ross said. “It has always been about the right of District 3 residents to elect their own County Commissioner. On Friday, the people finally get their day in court.”
Ross: ‘The Law Matters’
Ross said his legal challenge is focused on ensuring election laws are applied consistently.
“While others relied on politics, assumptions and opinion, I relied on one thing … the law,” Ross said. “If we expect our citizens to follow the law, then government must follow it too. There cannot be one set of rules for politicians and another for everyone else.”
Concerns Over Election Accountability
Ross said the case raises broader questions about accountability and public confidence in Orange County’s election process.
“Candidates place their trust in our election officials to provide competent, accurate guidance,” Ross said. “Voters deserve confidence that elections are conducted according to Florida law … not political convenience. When government gets it wrong, someone has to stand up. I chose to do exactly that.”
Campaign Message
Ross, a longtime Orange County resident and community leader, said the lawsuit reflects the type of leadership he would bring to the County Commission.
“I don’t back down from difficult fights. I don’t accept government incompetence. And I don’t believe taxpayers or voters should pay the price when public officials fail to do their jobs.”
He also pledged to provide a public update immediately following Friday’s hearing.
“I welcome this opportunity because facts matter. The law matters. Most importantly, the voices of District 3 voters matter. This isn’t about politics … it is about protecting the integrity of our elections and ensuring the people, not government bureaucracy, decide who represents them.”
The hearing is scheduled for Friday, July 10, 2026. The court’s ruling will determine the legal issues presented in the case. The allegations and legal arguments discussed are those advanced by the plaintiff and remain subject to judicial review.
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