Ex-MSNBC host Chris Matthews praised President Donald Trump during a conversation with Charlie Rose on Saturday, suggesting the president had a strong cultural connection to the country."Hes very good at knowing your condition, your worries, your insecurities. I mean, hed be a great bully in a grade school, a Catholic high school or grade school. I mean, hed be the scariest bully because hed know everybodys weakness. But hes really good at the moment. I mean, hes out there watching television and keeping up, and, Is this the right thing to do, what were doing right now?" Mattews told Rose. "Biden couldnt do that in a million years, not a million years. Mondale couldnt do that. They dont have the connection to the electricity of whats going on in the country culturally. And he knows what works."Matthews, the former host of "Hardball with Chris Matthews" on MSNBC, spoke to Rose during his show, "A Charlie Rose Global Conversation."Rose began the discussion by asking Matthews how he would rate the president as a politician.TRUMP CRITIC ADMITS THE PRESIDENT PUT TOGETHER A BETTER WORKING-CLASS COALITION THAN ANY DEMOCRAT"We have never had a president so instantly spontaneous that he knows this minute, if he had said at four oclock this afternoon, he would say, You know, thats not really true anymore. He will know the mood of the country. I once had a talk with him about the Zoolander movie, Ben Stiller movie, and he said, Zoolander 1, good timing. Zoolander 2, didnt work. Hes instantaneous," Matthews said.The former MSNBC host said Trump knew how to put down Jeb Bush and several of his GOP opponents.Matthews also argued that Trump was a strong public figure."His strength is still greater than the Democratic strength," he told Rose. "He is a stronger public figure than the Democratic people. I mean, Obama still has tremendous charisma, but Trump has strength. And I think thats what all voters look for. They want a president who is a strong figure. And hes got it. Its just there. And half the country buys it."MSNBC HOST TELLS COLBERT THAT TRUMP HAS STARTED TO 'F--- AROUND WITH THE MILITARY'He also said that he didn't believe polls that showed Trump's popularity slipping."To be honest with you, the country is moving towards Trump!" Matthews told Rose. "These polls, they come out and show him not doing well, I dont buy that."Matthews offered some political praise for Trump earlier this year over his efforts against elite institutions."I have to say that the administration sometimes sets its targets in the right direction. The elite universities in this country are not exactly covered in roses right now in the way that they handled these demonstrations," Matthews said during MSNBC's "Morning Joe" in April.CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTUREMatthews lamented that protests over the Israel-Hamas war over the last year prevented students from going to class, and said every student - Jewish or not - had a right to attend the classes they're paying for at universities like Harvard."And the fact that they had to be told to do this, they had to be told to let students go to school, which is what this is about, that they had to be told to do, that they had a problem in their own heads. So I think the elite universities are taking a beating right now. Its probably a smart move," he said at the time.

Russian tennis star Anna Kalinskaya defeated Emma Raducanu in the Citi D.C. Open on Saturday, and a familiar face joined her on the court to celebrate the victory.Kalinskayas dog, a dachshund named Bella, ran onto the court. It was the second time the dog had come onto the hard court. Kalinskaya celebrated with Bella following a victory over Clara Tauson on Friday night.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMThe happy canine was seen getting a bit rambunctious as it ran over to Kalinskaya. The tennis pro then held up her dog to the crowd to a round of applause from those still in the stadium.Kalinskaya will take on Leylah Fernandez in the final on Sunday. She defeated Raducanu, 6-4, 6-3 and topped Tauson 6-3, 7-5, on her way to the Fernandez matchup. Fernandez knocked off Elena Rybakina in the semis, and Taylor Townsend in the quarterfinals.TENNIS GREAT VENUS WILLIAMS WINS DC OPEN MATCH FOR FIRST SINGLES VICTORY SINCE 2023Kalinskaya is ranked 48th in the Womens Tennis Association rankings, with her highest mark being 11th in the world. She has one singles title under her belt and is 307-189 in career singles matches.Tauson ousted Kalinskaya in the round of 64 at Wimbledon earlier this month. She lost in the first round of the French Open back May to Marie Bouzkova.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

WWE star Chelsea Green announced she was taking a break from social media on Friday night after she received backlash for her remarks about Hulk Hogan after the pro wrestling icons death.Green, like many in the pro wrestling world, offered her condolences amid Hogans death. She appeared on CBS News 24/7 show on Thursday and called him an "absolute icon" despite his "polarizing political views."CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMHogan supported President Donald Trump during the 2024 presidential election and was already considered to be a polarizing and controversial figure after leaked audio showed him making racist remarks. He lost favor with some pro wrestling fans because of it.Greens remarks about Hogan drew backlash from fans on social media, and she addressed them in an initial post."A significant part of my role at @WWE involves engaging w the public & responding to questions, often on live platforms," Green wrote on X. "Yesterday, I was asked to comment on Hulk Hogan on live tv. Let me be clear: my stance on racism is unwavering. I do not condone itperiod."If my response (or tweet) seemed dismissive of real concerns, I sincerely apologize. That was never my intention. I tried to acknowledge a death respectfully, even when the legacy is complicated. I am learning one day at a time and will continue to learn."DWAYNE 'THE ROCK' JOHNSON PAYS TRIBUTE TO 'IMMORTAL' HULK HOGAN: 'A CHILDHOOD HERO'The backlash appeared to continue, and Green stepped away from social media altogether."Ive tried to keep my page positive and comedic, but today, a lot changed and it hit harder than I expected. The name calling, the death threats, the faceless accounts," she added."Social media was supposed to be a fun place and it hasnt been for a while. Its been overwhelming and I need to step away for a little bit."Hogan died on Thursday after suffering a potential cardiac event at his home in Florida.He was remembered across the sports entertainment world. WWE paid tribute to him on "Friday Night SmackDown" with a video of his pro wrestling success and a 10-bell salute.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

A man has made travel an unpredictable adventure by throwing a dart at a map of the world while blindfolded and visiting whichever country his darts happen to hit.Sorin Mihailovici, 48, a small business entrepreneur, started the journey in 2012 after telling a friend he wanted to "wake up one morning and throw a dart at a map and go there."Mihailovici began by visiting far-flung places like the North Pole, Russia and Indonesia, originally taking annual trips but now traveling to up to 16 destinations a year. The trips were initially funded by his savings and later through partnerships with companies, per SWNS.MAN DISCOVERS GHOST TOWN FULL OF EMPTY, EERIE HOTELS: LIKE A TIME CAPSULEHe doesnt travel to the exact spot where his dart lands, but begins in the countrys capital because some nations, such as Uruguay, are too small for precise targeting, said Mihailovici.Mihailovici's favorite countries so far include Iceland, Argentina and Thailand, while Madagascar ranked "hands down" as his least favorite, he said, due to a "misconception" shaped by the animated movie sharing its name and locals who "didnt have the best intentions."Praising Vietnam, Mihailovici, a Canadian, insisted its cuisine is "the best street food Ive ever had," and noted it was the cheapest destination that he's traveled to, SWNS reported.Some countries, especially in Scandinavia like Norway and Sweden, and places like Switzerland and the Maldives, can be quite expensive, he pointed out.Mihailovici's travel show, "Travel by Dart," features footage from his trips.WORLD-TRAVELING COUPLE VISITS 197 COUNTRIES, REVEALS TOP DESTINATIONSHe began editing and publishing the clips during the COVID pandemic, eventually selling the concept to a distribution company, as SWNS reported."While we were at home, I started editing all those materials from every country and created a season of 13 episodes," he said."Most of the time its just me on location. I hire a local videographer, film and create episodes for YouTube and over the years, Ive started doing a show for Amazon Prime."Despite the unpredictable nature of his travels, Mihailovici said he isnt afraid of dangerous destinations.WOMAN SELLS HOME TO TRAVEL FULL-TIME IN TRUCK AFTER DAD'S UNEXPECTED DEATHHe was in Iraq recently, he said."People said, Are you crazy? Maybe it was not safe, but nothing happened to me. We went to Baghdad and Babylon. It was great. I was eating camel every day," Mihailovici told SWNS.WOMAN FEARED DOGS, THEN BEGAN TREKKING ALL OVER THE WORLD WITH NEWLY ADOPTED PUPHe admitted he was "a little scared" about going to Iraq given the political situation, but was determined to follow through with wherever the dart suggested he go."The idea is to visit the whole world, each and every country by dart," Mihailovici said."I did all the big ones that are larger on the map," he said.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER"The smaller ones are hard to hit, and Im also blindfolded [while throwing the dart], so I cant pinpoint it to a certain continent."Mihailovici said he hopes to continue expanding his travel list.He said Australia and Spain are his next dream destinations, though he admits theyre "hard to hit" and plans another dart throw in August, according to SWNS.For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyleAmong the countries he's traveled to so far are Easter Island, Indonesia, Bermuda, Portugal, Cuba, Thailand, Colombia, Brazil, Italy, Iceland, Greece, Japan, Antarctica, Germany, Vietnam, India, Turkey, South Korea and Yemen, SWNS reported.Mihailovici said hotels sometimes offer gratuities to be featured in his show, per SWNS.

Japanese populist Sohei Kamiya stunned many in the country when his Sanseit party won 14 seats in Japans Upper House elections last week."From supermarket manager to bright political star populism has hit the shores of Japan like a tsunami," Gatestone Institute senior fellow Gordon Chang told Fox News Digital about 47-year-old Kamiya's surprise achievement.Holding 15 of 248 Upper House seats is not sufficient for Kamiyas party to submit legislation. However, polling data shows Sanseits impact with younger voters, as Kyodo News reported that more than 20% of voters from 18 to 40 voted for his party.TRUMP SECURES HISTORIC $550B TRADE DEAL WITH JAPAN: NEVER BEEN ANYTHING LIKE ITInspired by President Donald Trumps leadership style, Kamiyas rise has largely been attributed to his social media savvy. He snagged his earliest followers through his opposition to "blanket mask mandates, mass PCR testing, and vaccine requirements" during the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan Forward reported.Kamiya has also adopted a spin-off of Trumps MAGA motto, proclaiming "Japanese first" as his party promises to strengthen Japans culture, birth rates and food sufficiency, while finding solutions for its reliance on immigration.Though the Western media has characterized Kamiya as far-right, fringe or xenophobic, Lance Gatling, a principal at Nexial Research, Tokyo, told Fox News Digital that while Kamiyas goals of "protecting Japan, growing Japan, and educating Japan" are "fairly populist," they do not represent "a radical move towards the right wing."In fact, Gatling said many in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has dominated Japanese politics for decades, "are more right-wing than Sanseit." Gatling described members of Kamiyas party as "pretty reasonable."Gaitlin said that Kamiya, formerly a reservist in the Self-Defense Forces and an English teacher, "doesnt appear to be playing." Kamiya "has been honing his message for some time," Gatling said.JAPANESE GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO BIDEN CLAIM THAT JAPAN IS XENOPHOBIC: UNFORTUNATESome critics have expressed particular concern over what they call Kamiyas anti-immigration stance. Immigration, however, has become a chief issue for the island nation. When former President Joe Biden called Japan "xenophobic" for failing to increase immigration in May 2024, Kamiya responded on social media. "Its not that were xenophobic, we are being cautious after seeing your failures," Kamiya said. "You are meddling too much in our internal affairs."Gatling says categorizing the Japanese as xenophobic "just doesnt ring true." He explained that the country has "one of the most astonishing cultures in history," formed by adopting Western culture and enriching it to create "a completely unique culture that has tremendous appeal around the world."Gatling says Kamiya is aiming for a return to traditional cultural values, while also lowering taxes and increasing food self-sufficiency, which is currently the lowest rate of all Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development nations at 38%.The rice trade would be critical to this arrangement, with Sanseit eager to curb imports of U.S. rice. At present, imports of U.S. rice are set to increase by 75%, thanks to a $550 billion trade deal President Donald Trump signed with Japan on July 22.Another possible friction point in the future might be Sanseits desire to turn the nations farmers into public sector employees, Gatling admitted. "The agriculture bloc is one of the most powerful in the LDP," he explained. "Im not sure how many of the farmers want to be public sector employees."While he says that it is too early to determine the future of Sanseit in Japanese politics, Gatling said Kamiya has stated he is not "interested in building a coalition government." Gatling believes the partys future will hinge on preparations for subsequent elections and demonstrating that "they have reasonable policies."Chang said Sanseits win was a loss for the LDP, which he says has "been adrift" since Abes 2020 resignation and subsequent 2022 assassination. Current Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba "is weak and unpopular," and the LDP now finds itself "in the minority in both houses of the Diet for the first time since the party was formed in 1955," Chang said. "Ishiba is naturally catching the blame."While the political waves leave Japan "rudderless," Chang said to "expect Sanseit to only get stronger, which means Japan will turn inward. Around the world, societies have had enough of large foreign populations that do not assimilate, so we should not be surprised that Kamiya will become even more influential."Change occurs slowly in Japan until it happens all at once. Japan is now on the verge of an all-at-once moment," Chang said.

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Ca., revealed on Sunday what they think of the Justice Departments interviews with convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, and whether she should receive a pardon."If she has information that could help us, then I think she should testify. Let's get that out there and [do] whatever they need to do to compel that testimony as long as it's truthful," Massie told NBC "Meet the Press" host Kristen Welker.DOJ Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Maxwell on Thursday and Friday in the Attorney General of Tallahassee, Floridas office, after she allegedly initiated contact with the department. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for conspiring with Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse minors.EPSTEIN ACCOMPLICE GHISLAINE MAXWELL COULD BE EYEING THREE OUTCOMES AS SHE MEETS WITH DOJ AGAIN: EXPERTPressure on the Trump administration to release the so-called Epstein files has mounted in recent weeks after the DOJ released a two-page memo asserting that the evidence the federal government compiled did not contain a "client list" and that there was no "credible evidence" that the New York financier had blackmailed other prominent individuals.U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said that some interpreted it as saying that a "client list" was "sitting on my desk." The AG later denied that she was referring to a client list and instead claimed she was referring to the Epstein case files. Much of the MAGA base was skeptical of the DOJs claim and has demanded further transparency.The two representatives introduced the "Epstein Files Transparency Act" on July 15, which, if passed, would compel the federal government to release all the "Epstein files." Speaker Mike Johnson has opposed votes on Epstein-related legislation, and called the House to an early recess until September in order to avoid a floor vote on the legislation.CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTUREWhen questioned if Maxwell should be pardoned or receive a commutation in exchange for her cooperating with the DOJ, Massie said that it would be up to the president. Khanna, however, came out sharply against such a deal."I'm concerned that the Deputy Attorney General, Todd Blanch, is meeting with her supposedly one-on-one. Look, I agree with Congressman Massey that she should testify, but she's been indicted twice on perjury. This is why we need the files," Khanna said.Massie blasted Johnson for refusing to allow a vote on his bill, and warned that Republicans could suffer in the midterms if they fail to deliver transparency to the public on the Epstein issue.Johnson, for his part, has accused Massie of playing "political games" with the Epstein files."I dont understand Thomas Massies motivation, I really dont Its interesting to me that he chose the election of Donald Trump, to bring this, to team up with the Democrats to bring this discharge petition Were for maximum transparency, were engaged in that right now, and we dont need political games," Johnson told reporters last week.

President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a trade deal between the U.S. and European Union on Sunday.The announcement came moments after the two had addressed the media, agreeing that the likelihood of an agreement was about 50-50. Von der Leyen said the negotiations had taken some "heavy lifting," but the two leaders agreed they were happy with the result."We are agreeing that the tariff straight across for automobiles and everything else will be a straight-across tariff of 15%," Trump said."So we have a tariff of 15%. We have the opening up of all of the European countries, which I think I could say were essentially closed. I mean, you weren't exactly taking our orders. You weren't exactly taking our agriculture," he added, addressing von der Leyen.TREASURY SECRETARY BESSENT DETAILS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S PLAN TO TACKLE CHINA'S ECONOMIC IMBALANCESTrump and von der Leyen had sounded unsure of whether a deal would be reached even as they spoke to the press in Scotland on Sunday."We look forward to talking to see if we can do something," Trump had said of the negotiations. "We've had, a very good relationship over the years, but it's been a very one-sided transaction, very unfair to the United States."Responding to a reporters question, von der Leyen agreed with Trump that there must be a "rebalancing" of the bilateral trade, which is worth billions of dollars."It is about rebalancing," von der Leyen said as she sat next to Trump. "You can call it fairness, you can call it rebalancing. We have a surplus and the United States has a deficit, and we have to rebalance it."This is a developing story. Check back soon for updates.

Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi made her debut at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on Sunday as she competed in the 200-meter individual medley. Shes just 12 years old.Yu is slated to compete in the 400-meter individual medley and the 200-meter butterfly.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMShe finished with a time of 2 minutes, 11.90 seconds in the 200 IM, advancing to the semifinals. Her time was the 15th fastest of the 16 qualifiers.Yu, who was born in October 2012, took up swimming at the age of six."The summer was too hot, and my dad took me to the water park," she told Chinas Xinhua News Agency, via The Sydney Morning Herald. "I enjoyed the coolness of the water and spent a lot of time in different small pools for kids. One day, a coach approached me and asked if I wanted to swim faster.USA VOLLEYBALL COMPLIES WITH TRUMP'S EXECUTIVE ORDER, BANS TRANS ATHLETES FROM GIRLS' AND WOMEN'S COMPETITION"My age is currently an advantage. I hope to grow and develop more strength in the future. I really want to experience the world-class competition."World Aquatics cut off age is 14 years old, but younger swimmers are allowed to compete if their times surpass a qualifying standard. Yu nearly made the China Olympic Team for the 2024 Paris Games but was a few seconds short.Should Yu pick up a medal in any of the events, she would be the youngest swimmer since Denmarks Inge Sorensen won a medal a month after turning 12 at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.The Associated Press contributed to this report.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Sofa Vergara shared a health update with fans.The 53-year-old "Modern Family" actress posted photos of herself in the hospital in a July 25 Instagram post, sharing that she had undergone a second knee surgery, although she didn't share the reason behind the operations."Its done! Round 2 #knee," she captioned the post.One of the photos featured a makeup-free selfie of Vergara on a hospital bed, resting her cheek on her hand as she smiled for the camera while dressed in a hospital gown.SPORTS ILLUSTRATED COVER MODEL SALMA HAYEK ADMITS SHE TRIED TO 'BACK OUT' OF RACY PHOTO SHOOTThe second photo showed Vergara's right leg, which showed a bandage taped on the side of her knee and a brace wrapped around her shin.Many of Vergara's famous friends wished her well in the comments section, including her "America's Got Talent" co-star, Terry Crews, who wrote, " proud of you!"APP USERS CLICK HERE FOR POSTLauren Snchez Bezos also commented, writing "Sending you " while Patrick Schwarzenegger wrote, "Wishing you speedy recovery !!!!"This is not the first time the "Griselda" star has needed an operation on her knee. She previously shared with her followers on Instagram stories in April 2024 that she had gone through surgery, assuring fans she was in safe hands.LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS"If u ever get a [major] knee surgery make sure u Get a handsome doctor who will sleep with u that night... !" she wrote at the time, adding "Luv u."Vergara was referring to her boyfriend at the time, orthopedic surgeon Justin Saliman, whom she dated for over a year before announcing they had split in January 2025.Following her breakup from Saliman, Vergara sparked romance rumors with retired football player, Tom Brady. The two were photographed together while on the Ritz-Carlton yacht during a star-studded European voyage.In the photo, Vergara can be seen posing with her eyes closed as singer J Balvin kisses the top of her head, while Brady smiled at the camera as he sat next to the actress.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTERThe pair have reportedly been spending time together in Ibiza, Spain, as a source described the situation as a "summer romance," according to Page Six."He asked to switch seats to sit next to her at dinner," a source told the media outlet.

President Donald Trump blasted the European Union for not providing aid to Gaza on Sunday, adding that Israel must "make a decision" about how to handle the region with Hamas still holding hostages.Trump made the comments while meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Scotland. He said that the U.S. has given millions in aid to Gazans, but claimed there has been no assistance from European countries."We gave $60 million two weeks ago for food for Gaza, and nobody acknowledged it. Nobody talks about it. And it makes you feel a little bad when you do that. And, you know, you have other countries not giving anything. None of the European countries, by the way, gave I mean, nobody gave but us and nobody said, gee, thank you very much. And it would be nice to have at least a thank you."Trump went on to note that a deal needs to be made between Israel and Hamas to end the war and return the last remaining hostages to Israel, despite many of them being dead."But we have a lot of bodies, and the parents want those bodies as much as they would want their child if that child were alive," Trump said of the hostages and their families.NEWS OUTLETS DESPERATELY CONCERNED FOR THEIR JOURNALISTS IN GAZA, URGE ISRAELI AUTHORITIES TO HELPHe suggested that Hamas is reluctant to make a deal for the final hostages because they feel it would be "the end for them" if they lose leverage against Israel."You know, they had a routine discussion the other day and all of a sudden they hardened up. They don't want to give them back. And so Israel is going to have to make a decision," Trump said.The meeting comes as the IDF highlighted its efforts to deliver aid into Gaza after restricting the flow in recent months.HAMAS LOSING IRON GRIP ON GAZA AS US-BACKED GROUP GETS AID TO PALESTINIANS IN NEEDIsrael is now conducting airdrops for aid throughout the region, and the IDF says it conducted 28 drops in a matter of hours on Sunday."Let me be clear: Israel supports aid for civilians, not for Hamas. The IDF will continue to support the flow of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza," an IDF spokesperson said, claiming Israel transferred roughly 250 trucks full of aid into Gaza this week.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThe IDF argues the reports about starvation in Gaza were a false campaign promoted by Hamas, but hunger is spreading across the region after the United Nations and the IDF previously failed to reach an agreement about aid distribution, Fox News Trey Yingst reported.