The German Federal Office for Protection of the Constitution (Bfv) categorised the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as “definitely right-wing extremist“, sparking widespread calls for a ban on the party.

A survey by German newspaper BILD published on May 3 revealed that some 48 per cent of respondents supported a complete ban on the AfD, including its dissolution, exclusion from elections and the removal of its MPs from the Bundestag, or parliament.

By contrast, 37 per cent opposed such a ban, while 15 per cent remained undecided or indifferent.

Banning the right-wing party could backfire, though. According to the same poll, 39 per cent believed that outlawing the AfD would damage Germany’s democracy rather than protect it.

The Bfv classification placed Alice Weidel’s party under intensified surveillance and branded its ideology as incompatible with Germany’s constitutional order.

It came at a politically sensitive moment: Latest polls showed the AfD as the leading party nationwide, a first in its history.

In response, the AfD is filing a lawsuit against Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, accusing the Bfv of politically motivated overreach, the party announced on May 5.

The ruling by the Bfv has also prompted scrutiny of AfD members employed in public service and triggered discussions about stripping the party of its access to State funding.

Bavarian interior minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) told BILD on May 3 that officials “must examine what consequences this classification must have for the activities of AfD members in the public service”.

He added that it may also be time to review whether the party should continue receiving public money. He argued hat the Bfv decision also “gives cause to examine whether the AfD can be excluded from State party funding on this basis”.

Greens party politician and Bundestag Vice-President Katrin Göring-Eckhart on May 3 urged the Constitutional Court to investigate banning AfD as a party.

The AfD could be excluded from State party funding on that basis.

“A confirmed right-wing extremist party with aspirations against the free democratic order is a threat to democracy in our country. The Federal Constitutional Court should review a ban on the AfD,” she said on X.

Still, not all have been in favour of pursuing a legal route to negate the party.

Thorsten Frei, an MP with the Christian Democratic Union and the incoming head of the Federal Chancellery, called for a political rather than judicial strategy: “We must fight the AfD politically, not legally,” he said in an interview with The Pioneer news outlet published on May 5.

While the German Government weighed its legal options, segments of civil society have already taken action against the right-wing party.

During the Protestant Church Congress in Hanover on May 3, a resolution called “Ban AfD now” was adopted.

That urged the Bundestag, Bundesrat, and the federal government to request a ruling from the Constitutional Court on the party’s legality.

The resolution went further, urging church leadership to commit all available resources to the campaign.

This marked another chapter in the growing resistance to the AfD from religious institutions. Christian organisations have repeatedly voiced opposition to the party.

During the European elections last year, the Anti-Fascist Churches movement campaigned that AfD membership was incompatible with Christian values and should disqualify individuals from roles in the Church, its welfare arm Diakonie and organisations such as Caritas.

“The continued presence of AfD supporters in church institutions is a scandal,” a statement on the group’s petition website read.

“If extremist forces like the AfD are allowed into our spaces, we cannot call them safe and that is unacceptable.”

Anne-Laure Dufeal, Brussels Signal

Israel’s government has approved a plan to seize all of the Gaza Strip and hold control over the territory for an unspecified length of time, officials have revealed.

Government officials said the newly approved offensive plan would move Gaza’s civilian population southward and keep humanitarian aid from falling into the hands of the terrorist group Hamas.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet ministers unanimously approved plans for the new offensive on Monday morning.

It came just hours after it was announced that tens of thousands of reserve soldiers are being called up.

The plan reportedly provides for the “conquering of Gaza” and retaining the territory.

It is expected to only be implemented after President Donald Trump’s visit to the region next week.

Until then, efforts will continue to reach a ceasefire and hostage deal with Hamas, Israeli media reported.

The plan has been presented by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir.

It provides for the “conquering of Gaza and holding the territories.”

The IDF will take control of territory in Gaza, move the civilian population toward the south, attack Hamas, and prevent the terror group from taking control of humanitarian aid.

The plan is gradual and focuses at first on a certain, unspecified area within the Strip.

It will then expand to other places, the Kan public broadcaster reported Sunday.

However, the outlet added that the intense fighting was expected to go on for months.

Additionally, the security cabinet approved a proposal to renew aid deliveries into Gaza while overhauling the mechanism in order to minimize the diversion of the goods by Hamas to benefit its operatives.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir was the only one who voted against this proposal.

The aid deliveries will be implemented when the situation in Gaza necessitates it, according to the proposal.

The aid delivery proposal, first reported by The Times of Israel on Friday, would entail the IDF transitioning away from wholesale distribution and warehousing of aid and instead have international organizations and private security contractors hand out boxes of food to individual Gazan families.

According to Israeli and Arab officials familiar with the matter, the IDF would not be directly involved in the distribution of aid.

However, troops would be tasked with providing an outer layer of security for the private contractors and international organizations handing out the assistance.

Israel believes this method will make it harder for Hamas to divert aid to its fighters, the officials said.

Meanwhile, concerns are growing for the hostages still being held by Hamas.

Channel 13 news reported Sunday evening that Chief of Staff Zamir had warned ministers in recent days that Israel “could lose” the hostages in Gaza if it launches a major operation in the Strip.

Terrorists in Gaza are holding 59 hostages, including at least 35 who have been confirmed dead.

They were among 251 abducted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas led over 5,000 terrorists to invade southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and triggering the war.

“In a plan for a full-scale maneuver, we won’t necessarily reach the hostages,” the network quoted Zamir as saying in a meeting.

Keep in mind that we could lose them.”

Zamir was also quoted as contending that the war’s two goals of defeating Hamas and rescuing the hostages “are problematic in relation to each other.”

Hostages’ families have long argued this.

However, political leaders, including Netanyahu, have insisted that military pressure will aid in reaching a deal for the hostages’ return.

Frank Bergman, SLAY

She said one client hasn’t made a payment on her student debt since last year because she can’t afford her $200 monthly bill.

“She’s making $45,000 and living in New York City,” Rodriguez said. “Every month, she’s in the red.”

Are you at risk of collection activity because you’re behind on your student loans? If you’re willing to share your experience for an upcoming story, please email me at annie.nova@nbcuni.com

• The U.S. Department of Education will resume collecting on defaulted student loans on Monday.
• More than 5 million borrowers are currently in default, and that total could swell to roughly 10 million borrowers within a few months, according to the Trump administration.
• The federal government has extraordinary collection powers on its student loans and it can seize borrowers’ tax refunds, paychecks, and Social Security retirement and disability benefits.
• The U.S. Department of Education is set to restart collection efforts on defaulted student loans on Monday — putting millions of borrowers at risk of wage garnishment and other consequences.
  The federal government has extraordinary collection powers on its student loans and it can seize borrowers’ tax refunds, paychecks, and Social Security retirement and disability benefits.
• More than 42 million Americans hold student loans, and collectively, outstanding federal education debt exceeds $1.6 trillion. More than 5 million borrowers are currently in default, and that total could swell to roughly 10 million borrowers within a few months, according to the Trump administration.
  The Trump administration has been critical of former President Joe Biden’s student loan relief efforts, questioning the logic of directing financial resources at those who’ve benefited from a college degree.
  “American taxpayers will no longer be forced to serve as collateral for irresponsible student loan policies,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon in a statement.
• Borrowers face plan changes, long waits for help
  Collection activity on federal student loans has mostly been paused for half a decade. During that period, there have been sweeping changes and disruptions to the lending system.
  Millions of borrowers who signed up for the Biden administration’s new repayment plan, known as SAVE, were caught in limbo after GOP-led lawsuits managed to get the plan blocked in the summer of last year. Many of those borrowers will now have to switch out of a Biden-era payment pause and into another repayment plan that will spike their monthly bill.
  In recent months, the Trump administration has eliminated the forgiveness provision from some student loan repayment plans.
• Restarting collections while the federal student loan system is facing so much uncertainty “will further fan the flames of economic chaos for working families across this country,” said Mike Pierce, executive director of the Student Borrower Protection Center.
  In addition to garnished paychecks and benefits, the millions of borrowers who are already late on their payments may see their credit scores tank by as much as 129 points as the Education Department ramps up collection activity, VantageScore recently wrote.
  Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve predicted in March that some people with a delinquency could see their scores fall by as much as 171 points. Credit scores typically range from 300 to 850, with around 670 and higher considered good.
  Lower credit scores can lead to higher borrowing costs on consumer loans such as mortgages, car loans and credit cards.
• We’ve been seeing clients with delinquent accounts who reached out after noticing a drop in their credit scores,” said Carolina Rodriguez, director of the Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program in New York.
  She said one client hasn’t made a payment on her student debt since last year because she can’t afford her $200 monthly bill.
  “She’s making $45,000 and living in New York City,” Rodriguez said. “Every month, she’s in the red.”
  
• Are you at risk of collection activity because you’re behind on your student loans? If you’re willing to share your experience for an upcoming story, please email me at annie.nova@nbcuni.com

The Trump Administration secured a massive legal victory with far-reaching implications on Saturday, when the D.C. Court of Appeals issued a ruling that could grant the administration relief in several ongoing cases.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on Saturday granted a stay on a lower court’s order that had mandated the reinstatement of over 1,000 Voice of America (VOA) employees who had been let go by the Trump Administration, which has moved to largely gut United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM). A lower court judge had previously ordered the reinstatement of all employees and a full return to previous VOA operating standards.

“This is a huge victory for President Trump and his Article II powers granted in the United States Constitution. It’s also a victory for US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) and VOA,” Kari Lake, who has been serving as a senior advisor to the USAGM for the Trump Administration, told Fox News after Saturday’s ruling was handed down.

The decision will allow the administration to continue its planned cuts and restructuring to the USAGM, including its subsidiaries like the VOA and Radio Free Europe.

“We are eager to accomplish President Trump’s America First agenda which has always been to modernize and make our government efficient while cutting waste, fraud, and abuse,” Lake said. “Now that we have a favorable ruling in the appeals court, we look forward to accomplishing the plan we’ve always had; to bring VOA into the 21st century.”

The court’s 2-1 ruling could have far-reaching implications for the dozens of legal challenges to the president’s authority launched by low-level federal judges across the country, as the majority emphasized the judiciary’s deference to executive authority in matters concerning federal employment and contractual decisions.

The court noted that the lower court likely lacked jurisdiction to interfere with the executive branch’s personnel and funding decisions, particularly regarding grant agreements with non-federal entities such as Radio Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks.

Saturday’s ruling follows Trump’s March 14 executive order, which aimed to greatly scale back USAGM operations. “Voice of America has been out of step with America for years. It serves as the Voice for Radical America and has pushed divisive propaganda for years now,” a senior White House official told Fox News at the time.

The move led to the termination of 1,300 VOA employees, as well as a revocation of numerous contracts, effectively grinding the outlet’s work to a halt. Judge Royce Lambert, a Reagan appointee, soon issued a ruling attempting to mandate the Trump Administration to allow said employees to return to work.

“Unfortunately, the frivolous litigation actually stalled the ability to streamline archaic practices and redundant programs at VOA,” Lake said. “The use of lawfare hurt the agency and its employees more than it helped.”

The VOA case encompasses the core issue at the heart of the Trump Administration’s with activist judges, many of whom have issued rulings that directly contradict the president’s authority. Saturday’s ruling paved the way for a potentially definitive ruling from the Supreme Court on lower courts’ ability to dictate personnel and funding policy to the executive branch.

“Majority rules lower court had no jurisdiction, which means grantees must go to different court to litigate a contract dispute and employees must use the administrative personnel dispute process to fight about being fired,” Judicial Watch founder Tom Fitton posted on X after the ruling was handed down. “If upheld, this push back on judicial activism could largely destroy the Left’s judicial coup against Trump’s effort to restore political control of the administrative state.”

Cullen McCue, Trending Politics

Just months into Donald Trump‘s second term, a new round of polling has delivered a jolt to Democrats, revealing that Trump is more trusted than them in Congress.

Why It Matters

Recent polls have shown Trump’s approval ratings declining and his popularity at an all-time low. Despite this, polls still seem to show that Trump is commanding more trust than his main opposition party.

This dynamic not only strengthens Trump’s hand as he advances his second-term agenda but also signals a daunting challenge for Democrats heading into the 2026 midterms—one that could further erode their influence at both state and federal levels.

What To Know

In January, Donald Trump appeared to be riding a wave of political momentum—his approval ratings had climbed into positive territory for the first time in his career, and polls suggested he was more popular than ever.

But recent polls suggest that Trump now holds the distinction of being the least popular president at the 100-day mark of a second term, surpassing even the historically low ratings he received during his first presidency.

A CNN/SSRS survey conducted April 17—24 among 1,678 adults found that only 41 percent approve of his job performance, while 59 percent disapprove—a 4-point drop since March and 7 points lower than in late February. This marks the lowest 100-day approval rating for any president since modern polling began under Eisenhower and is even worse than Trump’s own first-term numbers.

A Fox News poll from April 18—21 of 1,104 registered voters showed a net approval of -10 points, with 44 percent approving and 55 percent disapproving—down 8 points from the previous month.

In comparison to past presidents at the same point in office, Trump is far behind: Joe Biden had a 54 percent approval rating, Barack Obama 62 percent, and George W. Bush 63 percent. Trump’s rating has fallen to just 39 percent in an ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll conducted April 18—22 among 2,464 adults—down 6 points since February.

The NPR/PBS/Marist Poll, conducted April 21—23, revealed perhaps the sharpest criticism, with 46 percent of registered voters assigning Trump an “F” grade for his performance—the worst 100-day grade ever recorded for a U.S. president.

But despite the negative polls for Trump, some suggest he is still more popular than the Democrats.

The CNN/SSRS poll showed that when respondents were asked who would be doing a better job as president, 45 percent chose Trump, while 43 percent chose Kamala Harris. “This looks a lot like the election result,” CNN pollster Harry Enten noted. The 2024 election saw Trump beat Harris in the popular vote by two points, with around 50 percent of the vote. That would suggest that voters’ support for Trump has not shifted all that much since November.

An ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll, conducted between April 18 to 22 among 3,634 respondents, brought more bad news for the Democrats, showing that when respondents were asked who they trusted more to deal with the U.S.’s main problems, 40 percent chose Trump, compared to just 32 percent who chose Democrats in Congress.

And in the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, conducted between April 25-27 among 1,029 adults, the Republicans held a significant advantage over Democrats on two of the most pressing issues for voters: immigration and the economy.

When asked which party has the better plan to address immigration, respondents favored the GOP by a wide 19-point margin. On the economy, Republicans also lead by 9 points. That is despite recent polls showing Trump deep underwater on both issues over the past few weeks after he announced his “Liberation Day” tariffs and became embroiled in a dispute with the Supreme Court over the mistaken deportation of Maryland resident Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia.

Mike Nellis, a Democratic strategist and former adviser to Kamala Harris, told Newsweek that recent polling reflects lingering dissatisfaction with Joe Biden’s presidency, which he said has damaged the Democratic brand. “People were pretty unhappy,” Nellis said, and Democrats now need to “earn people’s trust back” rather than rely on Trump’s unpopularity.

He urged the party to elevate “a new generation of Democratic leaders” who can connect with voters on core issues like economic security and immigration, where he said messaging has fallen short. Despite Trump’s failures, Nellis warned that Americans are frustrated with both parties, adding, “We have 18 months to win people over.”

CNN pollster Harry Enten echoed that warning, calling the numbers “a major wake-up call” for Democrats and cautioning, “those eggs have not cracked at this particular moment.”

It comes at a time when polls have shown that following their 2024 election loss, the Democrats are more unpopular than ever.

According to an NBC News poll from March 7-11, 55 percent of respondents said they had a negative view of the Democratic Party, while 27 percent said they had a positive perception. That is the lowest level recorded since NBC News began asking the question in 1990.

There was also evidence of dissatisfaction with the party from its base, with 20 percent of Democratic voters viewing it negatively, twice as high as the figure for Republicans who had a negative view of their party.

The survey suggested that this may be because Democratic voters want their party to take a tougher position in Congress. Among Democratic voters, 65 percent said they wanted their congressional representatives to “stick to their positions even if that means not being able to get things done in Washington,” while 32 percent said they should “make compromises with Trump to gain consensus on legislation.”

The poll largely reflects the debates occurring in the Democratic party right now in light of their 2024 defeat.

Some feel that in order to get back on track and win back the House in the 2026 midterms, the party should take a more bipartisan approach to politics, and work with Trump to pass legislation, while others feel that doing so will alienate Democratic voters who see Trump as a toxic figure.

This dispute played out this week when Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined Trump at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County, which provoked backlash from progressives.

A Reddit post from political group 50501 accused her of “destructive enabling behavior” and legitimizing a president they believe should face impeachment. Tara Setmayer, co-founder of The Seneca Project, said on X that Whitmer is “disqualifying herself” because of her actions.

However, some defended Whitmer, including Travis Akers, a veterans and gun reform advocate and a naval intelligence officer, who said on X: “It’s ridiculous that Democrats are upset with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for joining President Trump at Selfridge Air National Guard Base.”

Nellis, in a post on X, added: “You won’t catch me complaining about Gretchen Whitmer saving tens of thousands of jobs or bringing in federal relief for people without power in Michigan. That’s the damn job.”

Whitmer’s appearance followed her disastrous meeting in the Oval Office last week. The Michigan governor had gone to see the president for what she described as a private meeting. But the meeting led to an awkward moment, when Whitmer was left standing in front of cameras as Trump signed an executive order targeting a critic and repeating his debunked claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him.

A New York Times photographer captured her at one point shielding her face with folders.

In a statement, Whitmer’s office said the governor was brought into the Oval Office in front of the press “without any notice” and emphasized that her presence was not an “endorsement of the actions taken or statements” made at that event.

But Whitmer received much backlash, some Democrats accusing her of “appeasement.”

However, Whitmer appeared to dismiss these claims, writing on X: “I’ll work with anyone who’s serious about getting things done. But I’ll never compromise on what I believe. In Michigan, we know how to get things done—and that means working together.”

She added: “Bipartisanship isn’t about sacrificing our values. It’s about standing strong and finding common ground to get things done. It’s about putting people first, every single time.”

Newsweek/Update 5/3/25, 05:36 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from Mike Nellis.

Passengers with flights to or from Newark Liberty International Airport encountered long delays and cancellations Saturday due to an air traffic controller shortage, a nationwide problem the Trump administration has pledged to fix.

The busy airport outside New York City experienced disruptions all week. Faulting the Federal Aviation Administration’s alleged failure to address “long-simmering” challenges related to the air-traffic control system, United Airlines cut 35 daily flights from its Newark schedule starting Saturday.

United CEO Scott Kirby said the technology used to manage planes at the New Jersey airport failed more than once in recent days. The flight delays, cancellations and diversions the equipment problems caused were compounded when more than one-fifth of Newark’s traffic controllers “walked off the job,” he said.

This particular air traffic control facility has been chronically understaffed for years and without these controllers, it’s now clear — and the FAA tells us — that Newark airport cannot handle the number of planes that are scheduled to operate there in the weeks and months ahead,” Kirby wrote in a letter to customers.

Airport status reports from the FAA said staffing issues were causing average delays of nearly two hours and ones as long as five hours for flights scheduled to arrive at Newark on Saturday morning. Departures were delayed by an average of 45 minutes. , and average delays of 45 minutes for departures on Saturday morning, according to the status reports.

By late afternoon, arriving flights were running more than three hours behind schedule, while the delay for departing flights had shortened to a half-hour on average. The “misery map” maintained by flight tracking company FlightAware showed the ripple effect on airports in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, Dallas and other cities.

United Airlines operates the most flights out of Newark by far, and 35 flights represents about 10% of the round-trip domestic schedule operated by the carrier and its regional United Express network, according to information on the company’s website.

Newark Liberty International Airport pointed to both staffing issues and “construction” when it warned travelers about delays on Thursday.

The Trump administration says it’s been trying to “supercharge” the air traffic controller workforce and make moves to address the nation’s shortage of controllers. The U.S. transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, on Thursday announced a program to recruit new controllers and give existing ones incentives not to retire.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, a workers’ union, said at the time that those moves could help address staffing shortages, but it also said the system is “ long overdue for technology and infrastructure upgrades.”

On Friday that he visited with “our hard working air traffic controllers as we work to fix these equipment outages caused by outdated technology.”

United’s decision to pare back its flight schedule in Newark come at an already uncertain time for U.S. airlines. Potential customers across the industry are reconsidering whether to fly for work or for vacation given all the unknowns about what President Donald Trump’s trade war will do to the economy.

Uncertainty is so high that United recently made the unusual move to offer two separate forecasts for how it could perform financially this year: one if there were a recession, and one if not.

From Newark, United flies to 76 U.S. cities and 81 international destinations.

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

The state of Maine has dropped its lawsuit against the Trump administration regarding trans athletes in women’s sports, in exchange for the restoration of federal funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.” [Fox News 5-3-25]

Nobody — NOBODY — cares about money more than the socialists and Communists who call themselves Democrats and progressives. They can be bought, sold and controlled by money. Not that there’s anything bad about money, when honestly earned. Trade and production are, in fact, two of mankind’s noblest activities. But Democrats don’t agree. They want wealth, private property, capitalism and prosperity outlawed — for everyone except themselves. Their twisted audacity seems somehow more sinister than simple hypocrisy. It’s not really money that Democrats seek; it’s plunder.

Follow Dr. Hurd on Facebook. Search under “Michael Hurd” (Charleston SC). Get up-to-the-minute postings, recommended articles and links, and engage in back-and-forth discussion with Dr. Hurd on topics of interest. Also follow Dr. Hurd on X at @MichaelJHurd1, drmichaelhurd on Instagram, @DrHurd on TruthSocial. Dr. Hurd is also now a Newsmax Insider!

Ukraine has signed a deal with the United States, giving the U.S. access to Ukraine’s rare minerals as it continues to work with the Trump administration in an effort to end its three-year war with Russia.

Ukrainian Economy Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko flew to Washington, D.C., Wednesday to help finalize the deal.

“On behalf of the Government of Ukraine, I signed the Agreement on the Establishment of a United States–Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund. Together with the United States, we are creating the Fund that will attract global investment into our country,” she wrote on X.

Upon taking office, President Donald Trump said he wanted Ukraine’s rare earth materials as a condition for continued U.S. support in the war. He described it as reimbursement for the billions of dollars of U.S. military assistance given to Ukraine.

The agreement will establish the United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund to help accelerate Ukraine’s economic recovery, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.

“This agreement signals clearly to Russia that the Trump Administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term,” Bessent said in a statement. “President Trump envisioned this partnership between the American people and the Ukrainian people to show both sides’ commitment to lasting peace and prosperity in Ukraine. And, to be clear, no state or person who financed or supplied the Russian war machine will be allowed to benefit from the reconstruction of Ukraine.

The U.S. is seeking access to more than 20 raw materials considered strategically critical to its interests, including some non-minerals such as oil and natural gas. Among them are Ukraine’s deposits of titanium, which is used for making aircraft wings and other aerospace manufacturing, and uranium, which is used for nuclear power, medical equipment and weapons. 

Ukraine also has lithium, graphite and manganese, which are used in electric vehicle batteries.

Louis Casiano, FoxNews

Pope Donald Trump?

An artificial intelligence-generated photograph of the president was posted on his Truth Social page Friday night, appearing days before cardinals head to their conclave in Rome to select a successor to Pope Francis, who died on April 21, one day after Easter. 

The photograph, appearing just shy of a week after the Pope’s funeral — which Trump and first lady Melania Trump attended — was posted without further explanation but sparked backlash, praise, and jokes on social media. 

It shows him in a white cassock and pointed miter, or bishop’s hat, and wearing a large crucifix. The New York State Catholic Conference, representing the state’s bishops, condemned the post, reports MSNBC.

“There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President. We just buried our beloved Pope Francis and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St. Peter. Do not mock us,” the conference posted on X.

Days after returning from the Pope’s funeral, Trump joked to reporters outside the White House that his becoming the pope would be his “number one choice” when asked whom he preferred to be picked, but followed up by saying he has “no preference” over who is ultimately selected.

“I must say, we have a cardinal that happens to be out of a place called New York, who’s very good,” Trump said of Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York since 2009.

Pope Francis died from complications related to a stroke and heart failure. Earlier this year, he had been hospitalized in critical condition for several weeks.  

Media reports in Italy and Spain criticized the post, calling it offensive as the period of official mourning for Pope Francis is continuing. 

But the reaction has also been mixed, Newsweek reported Saturday.

Pope Trump… Lol our President just posted this,” comedian Terrance K. Williams posted on X Friday. “He’s trolling because he knows the media is going to flip out. Love it Actually I love the sound of King Trump, the first of his name.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday, while talking about the next pope, said, “You don’t have to be a priest. People don’t know that. Any unmarried Catholic male can be pope. But I got married and I’m happily married, so I guess I’ll miss out on that one.”

That would also eliminate Trump from the running, as he has been married three times and is not a Catholic. 

Vice President JD Vance also joked about Rubio being the pope, posting on X, “I think he could take on a bit more. If only there was a job opening for a devout Catholic…”

Vance, a Catholic, was one of the last foreign officials to meet with Pope Francis before his death.

Earlier this week, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., joked about Trump being “open to the idea of being the next Pope.”

“This would truly be a dark horse candidate, but I would ask the papal conclave and Catholic faithful to keep an open mind about this possibility! The first Pope-U.S. President combination has many upsides. Watching for white smoke…. Trump MMXXVIII!,” he posted on X. 

But the Republicans Against Trump account on X called the president’s papal post “full-on lunacy at this point.”

The MAGA Voice account, though, praised the photo, stating that “Donald Trump would be one of the BEST Popes to ever live,” followed by an emoji of praying hands.

Sandy Fitzgerald ✉

Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressional Democrats sounded an alarm Friday, warning that cutting funding for state-sponsored propaganda programs would lead to fascism.

In a swift executive action, President Donald Trump ended government funding of both PBS and NPR over concerns of reporting bias and leftist propaganda, which Democrats say will undoubtedly cause fascist ideologies to spread unimpeded across the nation.

“In Normandy, brave men and men identifying as women invaded German-occupied France to preserve our way of life,” said Senator Chuck Schumer in a passionate speech on Capitol Hill. “Now President Trump has carelessly thrown away everything they died for by ending the funding of propaganda programs, thus facilitating the return of the Nazi Party.”

“This is classic fascism,” he continued. “Only a Nazi would prevent the government from spreading false information as a means to manipulate the people it pretends to serve.”

According to sources, Republicans strongly disagreed with Schumer’s remarks, even going so far as to say he is “the one being a real fascist.” But this claim is false, said fact-checkers.

“If I can’t control the means of information so that people will believe the lies I tell them, America is lost,” said official fact checker Benji Woolcrest, a registered Democrat. “What could be fascist about that?”

At publishing time, Capitol insiders said Democrats were concerned that eliminating state-sponsored media could set the dangerous precedent of people being told the truth and being able to form their own opinions. The USA undeniably trumps our neighbors to the north.

The Babylon Bee