The San Francisco 49ers had a scary scene play out at training camp on Sunday after a collision led to a player being transported to the hospital.Head coach Kyle Shanahan announced that defensive end Tarron Jackson was hospitalized following a collision. He was conscious and had movement in his extremities, though he was transported to Stanford Hospital for evaluation.Beat reporters watching practice saw the scene play out, where Jackson hit the ground hard after being blocked and didnt get up. Trainers went out to check on him, and after several minutes, he was placed on a backboard and taken off the field.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMJackson is a player looking to earn a spot on the 49ers roster entering training camp. He joined their practice squad on a one-year, $1.1 million deal.However, Jacksons injury now leaves that chance of making the 53-man roster up in the air.JETS QUARTERBACK JUSTIN FIELDS RETURNS TO TRAINING CAMP AFTER INJURY SCAREJackson would be playing in his fourth NFL season if he were to get on the field. He was a sixth-round pick by the Philadelphia Eagles back in 2021, playing 21 games for the franchise after a stellar career at Coastal Carolina.Jacksons production was off the bench, as he collected 18 tackles and one sack over 17 games his rookie year. He saw just four appearances in 2022 before he was waived by the franchise midway through the season.He would go on to join the Eagles practice squad, remaining in place there through the 2023 season. Then, in 2024, the Carolina Panthers came calling and Jackson signed with them.He went on to play three games for Carolina last season, though he saw just 28 defensive snaps and 21 special teams plays.The 27-year-old signed with San Francisco in January with hopes of impressing yet another team enough to earn a spot come Week 1.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X, and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Ichiro Suzuki was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday as the ceremony took place in Cooperstown, New York.On a day that was emotional for many, Suzuki brought humor to his speech. The former Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees and Miami Marlins outfielder received 393 out of a possible 394 votes to be elected to the Hall of Fame. Only Mariano Rivera was a unanimous first-ballot Hall of Famer.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMSuzuki, in January, offered to meet with the lone writer for dinner to discuss the reasoning for being left off the ballot. The dinner didnt appear to happen, and the legendary outfielder rescinded the invitation."Three thousand hits or 262 hits in one season are two achievements recognized by the writers," he said. "Well, all but one."By the way, the offer for the writer to have dinner at my home has now expired."He also joked that he had never heard of the Marlins when the team offered him a contract."Honestly, when you guys offered me a contract in 2015, I had never heard of your team."RED SOX MANAGER ALEX CORA CLAIMS ESPN 'MADE S--- UP' ABOUT MLB TRADE RUMORS DURING HIS TIME AT NETWORKSuzuki joined the Hall of Fame in class with CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner. Dave Parker and Dick Allen were also elected via the Era Committee.Suzuki had 3,089 hits, 10 All-Star appearances and 10 Gold Gloves during his career."Baseball is much more than just hitting, throwing and running. Baseball taught me to make valued decisions about what is important. It helped shape my view of life and the world. The older I got, I realized the only way I could get to play the game I loved to the age of 45 at the highest level was to dedicate myself to it completely," he said. "When fans use their precious time to see you play, you have a responsibility to perform for them whether you are winning by 10 or losing by 10."Baseball taught me what it means to be a professional and I believe that is the main reason I am here today. I could not have achieved the numbers without paying attention to the small details every single day consistently for all 19 seasons."He added that getting into the Baseball Hall of Fame was never really the goal but now that he has achieved it, he called the notion a "fantastic dream."The Associated Press contributed to this report.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

The idea that Middle East peace cannot and should not advance without a formal agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority is outdated and demonstrably untrue. Indeed, it has done little but exacerbate conflict over the last 30 years and undermine U.S. interests in the region.The Abraham Accords, brokered by President Trump in 2020, offer a far more reliable solution. They provide a new paradigm for peace between Israel and all of its neighbors, including the Palestinians.President Donald Trump obviously deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for breaking with the failed Oslo peace process paradigm still sanctified by legacy media and a bipartisan community of foreign policy elites, and for building new bridges of mutually-beneficial cooperation between Israel and its Arab neighbors. Those truly interested in Middle East peace should work to expand the circle of regional normalization and integration. Doing so will not only advance tolerance, understanding and growth in the Middle East, but also provide a pathway towards a lasting solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict.TRUMP PRESSURES ISRAEL TO END GAZA CONFLICT AS HE EYES ABRAHAM ACCORDS EXPANSIONThis would certainly surprise former Secretary of State John Kerry, who in 2016 declared that peace between Israel and the Arab world would be impossible in the absence of an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. "There will be no separate peace between Israel and the Arab world," he declared."No, no, no, and no."The Abraham Accords revealed the fallacy of Kerrys claim.The Accords between Israel, UAE, Bahrain and Morocco led to a surge of people-to-people cooperation in countless areas, from green hydrogen to advanced medicine, from wildlife preservation to water recycling, and from youth sports to interfaith dialogue. Trade, tourism and innovation cooperation quickly grew.Even in the outbreak of war begun by Hamass October 7, 2023 terror attack, trade continued to rise. Trade between Israel and the UAE grew by 10% in 2024 as compared to 2023, between Israel and Bahrain by 843%, and between Israel and Morocco by 40%.Unfortunately, despite the historic processes led by President Trump, which led to four Arab countries joining the Abraham Accords in a matter of months, the Biden administration failed to expand the Accords, due in part to President Bidens continued adherence to the failed Kerry fallacy.Nevertheless, despite the Biden administrations inability to add any additional countries, the prospect of expanded peace and cooperation was still seen as a grave threat to the Iranian regime and its terror proxies, including Hamas. This fear of Abraham Accords expansion was one of the motives behind Hamas decision to launch its attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.Twenty-one months since this terrorist massacre and the subsequent war, the Abraham Accords have endured. Diplomatic, strategic and trade ties between Israel and its Accords partners remain stable. 2025 saw the continuation of high-level diplomatic meetings, such as the repeated visits by Israels foreign minister to Abu Dhabi, and the ratification of important bilateral agreements between Israel and its Accords partners.In addition, the Abraham Accords have had a direct positive impact on the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Israel has worked closely with the UAE and Morocco on the delivery of such aid, coordination made possible due to the trust built between Israel and its Accords partners since 2020.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONThe return of President Trump to the White House has created renewed momentum towards regional cooperation and integration. The potential for regional peace is obvious to many of Americas allies in the region. The benefits of such a peace could include not only those to be derived from bilateral relations with Israel and expanded ties with the United States, but those connected to groundbreaking multilateral initiatives such as the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor, and a Middle East Security Alliance.The Palestinian Authority, for its part, stands at a crossroads. Its leader, Abbas, now in the 20th year of his first four-year term, oversees an Authority that continues to promote incitement, while failing to combat corruption or advance meaningful economic growth. In the coming post-Abbas era, the PA will need to decide: Does it embrace the Abraham Accords spirit of cooperation, dialogue and people-to-people peace? Or does it continue the rejectionism that has led it nowhere for the last 30 years, while keeping the radicalized Palestinian people dependent on international largesse?Rather than attempting to delegitimize President Trumps achievement in advancing the Abraham Accords, all who claim to care about the Palestinians or Middle East peace should seek to strengthen these historic agreements, and encourage the Palestinians to reject the failures of the past. This is the path toward lasting peace and prosperity in the Middle East, in line with the vital interests of the United States.

One of the most storied institutions in all of American journalism has had the most turbulent period in its 57-year history."60 Minutes" is one of the few brands in legacy media that has proved its staying power despite the ever-evolving habits of news consumers. The Sunday magazine show continues to be one of the biggest draws for viewers on broadcast television. Which is why President Donald Trump's $20 billion lawsuit against CBS News and its parent company Paramount Global had such high stakes.Last fall, Trump took Paramount to court with allegations of election interference involving CBS News' handling of its "60 Minutes" interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris in the run-up to Election Day. He accused the company of aiding her campaign by deceitfully editing an exchange Harris had with "60 Minutes" correspondent Bill Whitaker who pressed her on why Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wasn't listening to the Biden administration.FCC APPROVES PARAMOUNT-SKYDANCE MERGER FOLLOWING TRUMP SETTLEMENT, COLBERT CANCELLATIONCritics noticed that two different responses to the same question aired on the network; one in a preview clip that aired on "Face the Nation" in which Harris was widely panned for her "word salad," the second airing during the primetime election special that had Harris giving a more succinct answer.Raw transcripts and footage from the interview ordered and released earlier this year by the FCC revealed the first half of her answer aired on "Face the Nation" while the second half aired on "60 Minutes," contradicting Trump's repeated claims that CBS had sliced and diced an answer to a completely different question.However, that didn't stop the lawsuit from moving forward in Trump-friendly Texas. And despite the company's own motion declaring the lawsuit "without basis in law and fact, and an affront to the First Amendment," Paramount settled with Trump in hopes of smoothing over its $8 billion merger with Skydance Media, which was just approved by Trump's FCC last week.CBS NEWS TAPS TANYA SIMON AS NEW 60 Minutes EXECUTIVE PRODUCER FOLLOWING TRUMP-PARAMOUNT SETTLEMENTA "60 Minutes" producer told Fox News Digital that colleagues had been "psychologically and mentally worn down" by the months-long drama that unfolded leading up to the settlement, which many learned about the following morning. An emergency Zoom meeting was organized by its then-interim executive producer Tanya Simon to wrangle most of the staff together during their summer vacation."The prevailing sentiment was like, this is what we were expecting. But it is a travesty," the producer said."A quote that has kind of been circulating around is, 'You can love your company, but your company won't love you back,'" they chuckled.60 MINUTES STAFF STAND BY KAMALA HARRIS INTERVIEW AT THE CENTER OF TRUMP'S MAJOR PARAMOUNT LAWSUITParamount agreed to pay Trump $16 million for his presidential library. Fox News Digital was first to report that another eight-figure sum would be allocated for advertisements and public service announcements for conservative causes set to be funded by the new ownership. While the "60 Minutes" staff were upset by the settlement, the producer said no one is expected to resign in protest, something that could have happened if CBS News issued an apology, which Trump's legal team fought for but the network resisted tooth and nail."I think there would have been a more dramatic response to the settlement if there had been an apology. I think that would have forced some resignations," they said. "That was a bright line for a lot of people."Staff were left scratching their heads about the editorial change that was reached in the settlement with CBS News pledging to release raw transcripts of interviews with presidential candidates going forward."Nothing has come down to us to say, like, this is the decision, this is why it was made and this is how you will move forward," the producer said. "It's not very comforting when you feel like nobody really knows what's going on and no one from Paramount or CBS is communicating directly with- I mean, they are communicating, obviously, with the news division, but not in a way that trickles down to us."CBS STAFFERS REVOLT OVER PARAMOUNT'S SHAMEFUL TRUMP SETTLEMENT, BETRAYAL TO THE NETWORK'S JOURNALISTS"60 Minutes" staff will return to the office in August. The producer predicted colleagues will be "energized" and "ready to work." There was a morale boost last week when CBS News officially announced that Simon would serve as the "60 Minutes" executive producer after she filled the role on an interim basis following the protest resignation of her predecessor, Bill Owens. Simon had broad support among the rank and file."This is a positive signal in terms of the future of 60 Minutes being able to stay true to its founding principles," the producer said about Simon's appointment.But the biggest concern for the journalists of "60 Minutes" is whether there will be attempts at corporate influence over its editorial decisions, especially as CBS will have new ownership after August 7, when the Paramount-Skydance deal closes. Owens left "60 Minutes" in April, claiming he could no longer maintain editorial independence after Shari Redstone, Paramount's then-controlling shareholder, wanted to keep tabs on stories pertaining to the Trump administration. While Redstone recused herself from negotiations, she vocalized her support for a settlement in order to prevent potential retribution from Trump's FCC, which could've blocked the Skydance merger.Skydance reportedly committed to FCC Chair Brendan Carr that it would install an ombudsman to oversee CBS News content after the merger."I think there'll be a high, high degree of vigilance in terms of is there a different type of oversight or meddling in our story choice or how we report on our stories," the producer said.CBS News, Paramount nor Skydance did not immediately respond to requests for comment.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Former President Barack Obama issued a rare statement weighing in on the hunger situation in Gaza on Sunday, suggesting aid must flow to Palestinians regardless of whether Israel can secure a hostage deal for now.Obama made the statement on social media in reference to reporting from the New York Times stating that "Gazans are dying of starvation." Israel, which blockaded aid to Gaza earlier this year, has recently begun to airdrop aid resources into the region, and its leaders argue reports of starvation are a false campaign promoted by Hamas. Reporting from Fox News' Trey Yingst has indicated that hunger is indeed spreading across the region, however."While a lasting resolution to the crisis in Gazamust involve a return of all hostages and a cessation of Israelsmilitary operations, these articles underscore the immediate need foraction to be taken to prevent the travesty of innocent people dying of preventable starvation," Obama wrote on X, providing a link to the Times."Aid must be permitted to reach people in Gaza. There is no justification for keeping food and water away from civilian families," he added.HAMAS LOSING IRON GRIP ON GAZA AS US-BACKED GROUP GETS AID TO PALESTINIANS IN NEEDPresident Donald Trump touted U.S. efforts to provide aid to Gaza when asked about the situation on Sunday. Meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the time, he stated that Europe has not provided aid to Gaza. He also said that Hamas is stealing much of the aid being sent to Palestinians, a claim Israel has put forward repeatedly."When I see the children and when I see, especially over the last couple of weeks people are stealing the food, theyre stealing the money, theyre stealing the money for the food. Theyre stealing weapons, theyre stealing everything," Trump told reporters."Its a mess, that whole place is a mess. The Gaza Strip, you know it was given many years ago so they could have peace. That didnt work out too well," he added.NEWS OUTLETS DESPERATELY CONCERNED FOR THEIR JOURNALISTS IN GAZA, URGE ISRAELI AUTHORITIES TO HELPThe IDF says it conducted 28 drops in a matter of hours on Sunday, in addition to transferring some 250 aid trucks over the course of the week."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 Sunday.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also pushed back on criticism of his regime, arguing that the United Nations has been falsely pushing claims of widespread starvation. He told the Jerusalem Post on Sunday that it has long been Israel's policy to allow aid into Gaza so long as it did not benefit Hamas.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP"Weve done this so far," Netanyahu told the paper. "But theU.N. is spreading lies and falsehoods about Israel. They say we dont allow humanitarian supplies in, yet we do. There are secure corridors. Theyve always existed, but now its official. No more excuses."

1. America's skies are wide open to national security threats, drone expert warns2. Migrants storm US beaches as Coast Guard battles surge that rose under Biden3. Man accused of unleashing bloody chaos at Michigan Walmart identifiedDEVIL'S DEN Husband and wife brutally murdered while out for a hike with their two young daughters. Continue reading MASK UNRAVELING Body language experts expose Idaho murderer's hidden reactions to victims' families. Continue reading SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS Jimmy Hoffa's son reveals new information about his father's disappearance 50 years ago. Continue reading DEADLY SANCTUARY Illegal alien with prior DUI 'recklessly' killed teens on highway, DHS official says. Continue reading MY HERO Hulk Hogan's son shares touching tribute following wrestling legend's death. Continue reading --DONE DEAL Trump announces trade agreement with European Union. Continue reading NEXT IN LINE Rubio downplays 2028 talk, touts Vance as Trump's successor. Continue reading TESTING LOYALTIES White House halts Hegseths use of polygraphs in media leak investigation. Continue reading DIPLOMATIC CHESS Trump issues powerful ultimatum to Putin that could end the devastating Ukraine war. Continue reading Click here for more cartoons'KNOWS WHAT WORKS' Former MSNBC star praises Trump's political instincts. Continue reading AFRAID Liberal comedian accuses CBS of caving to Trump pressure in Colbert cancellation. Continue reading TRUTH FOR JUSTICE GOP rep warns Republicans could pay price at polls over blocked Epstein files vote. Continue reading FEELING BLUE Democratic senator laments party's messaging problem as ratings plummet to 30-year low. Continue reading BRETT L. TOLMAN & JA'RON K. SMITH Americas crime drop isnt a coincidence. Trumps immigration policies are working. Continue reading SOLOMON L. WISENBERG Could Senator Adam Schiff really go to jail over alleged mortgage fraud? Continue reading --SCRIPT WITH SPINE New film company aims to challenge Hollywood's partisan bent with pro-American films. Continue reading SMART STRIDES Forget 10,000 steps new research reveals the real number you need for better health. Continue reading AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ Test yourself on appetizing attractions and medical milestones. Take the quiz here BULLSEYE BOUND Man throws darts at world map, visits whichever country he hits. Continue reading IRON WILL Rancher and host of 'Cast Iron Cooking' shares his traditional taste. See video REP. NANCY MACE I may be forced to run for governor. See video REP. BYRON DONALDS Democrats and the media are trying to sweep Russia hoax under the rug. See video Tune in to the FOX NEWS RUNDOWN PODCAST for today's in-depth reporting on the news that impacts you. Check it out ...Whats it looking like in your neighborhood?Continue readingFacebookInstagramYouTubeTwitterLinkedInFox News FirstFox News OpinionFox News LifestyleFox News Entertainment (FOX411)Fox News Sports HuddleFox BusinessFox WeatherFox SportsTubiFox News GoThank you for making us your first choice in the morning! Well see you in your inbox first thing Tuesday.

An adult dressed in an Elmo costume was caught on camera trolling protesters outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Portland, Oregon, over the weekend, clashing with demonstrators.Katie Daviscourt of The Post Millennial filmed the confrontation at the ICE South Waterfront facility on Saturday.In the video, the unidentified person in the costume is seen posing on the ground in front of the entrance to the ICE facility, crawling around outside and then dancing in front of the anti-ICE demonstrators who attempted to confront the person.The incident reportedly left anti-ICE demonstrators confused and frustrated, according to newsgathering website Storyful.MULTIPLE ARRESTS AFTER VIOLENT MOB ATTACKS PORTLAND ICE FACILITY WITH FIREWORKS AND KNIVESEarlier this month, Portlands progressive-leaning city council was exploring ways to expel ICE from the detention facility that has become a flashpoint for violent clashes between agents and radical agitators.City councilors told a packed hearing that they would consider revoking ICEs permit to operate theSouth Waterfront facility due to alleged violations of a 2011conditional-use permit, according to local news outletWillamette Week.PORTLAND ANTI-ICE RIOT CRUSHED BY FEDERAL AGENTSThepermit allows detention and administrative useunder specificlimitations, but lawmakers have raised concerns that ICE has been holding detainees there for longer than the required 12-hour limit.Residents and lawmakers raised other concerns, saying that the facility undermines the citys sanctuary city policy, while residents testified about targeted arrests, gas attacks and intimidation."Our values of sanctuary and humanity are under siege," local resident Michelle Dar said. She also said that federal agents armed actions threatened everyones safety, not just that of immigrants.Other residents complained that loud bangs and flashbangs were disrupting life for residents of subsidized housing and students of a local school. A handful of people also blamed Antifa for the ugly scenes outside the facility.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPChaotic scenes have been unfolding outside the facility since June,including in one incident when a large group of anti-ICE protesters tried to block law enforcement vehicles from entering and exiting the facility, forcing agents to deploy rubber bullets, tear gas and flash bangs to disperse the crowd.Fox News' Michael Dorgan, Alexandra Koch and Bill Melugin contributed to this report.

Atlanta Falcons players nearly made it a full week without having a fight in training camp as they jockey for position in hopes of making the final 53-man roster before Week 1.As temperatures rise in the hot sun, so do the attitudes on the field. Tempers appeared to boil over on Sunday when several players from the offense and defense had a skirmish.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMFalcons rookie edge rusher James Pearce Jr. got into it with offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron, whose helmet flew off, according to ESPN. Leonard Floyd and Kaleb McGary were also involved in a separate incident that included Pearce. Some punches were reportedly thrown in the heated battles.Atlanta selected Pearce with the No. 26 overall pick of the draft earlier this year. Its clear hes trying to make an impact off the bat."We're trying to develop a culture, a style of play for sure, and part of that is the violence with which we play and aggression, the urgency and all that," Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said, via ESPN. "Today, at times, it went a little too far, and we've got to learn how to manage that.JERRY JONES FACES 'PAY MICAH' CHANTS FROM COWBOYS FANS AT TRAINING CAMP SESSION"You're going to get agitated and, especially when you're playing really good defense, the offense is going to get very agitated, so you've got to anticipate punches being thrown, things being said, people getting pushed. In those moments, you got to thrive and not retaliate and so it's a good lesson to be learned today."The passion and intensity from the players is something fans have been dying to see return since Atlanta was in the Super Bowl during the 2016 season. Since then, the Falcons have only made the playoffs once and have only been over .500 once.The Falcons were 8-9 last season as the year sputtered once Kirk Cousins got hurt. The team was sixth in yards gained, 13th in points scored and 23rd in yards and points allowed.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

An Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) cadet died during a summer training camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky, officials announced on Saturday.Cadet Neil Edara, 22, of Ridgewood, New Jersey, passed away during training on the Land Navigation site at Fort Knox on July 24, U.S. Army Cadet Command said in a statement.Edara joined ROTC at Rutgers University in September 2021. He was attending Cadet Summer Training as part of 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp.TRUMP BACKS CONFIRMING FORT KNOX GOLD IS THERE, AS TREASURY SAYS IT IS"Edara became unresponsive while conducting Land Navigation Training. He received immediate medical attention and was medically evacuated by helicopter to the University of Louisville, where he was pronounced deceased by medical professionals," U.S. Army Cadet Command said. "At this time, the cause of death is under investigation."Lt. Col. Timothy Sorensen, professor of military science, Rutgers University, described Edara as "one of the most dedicated and promising young leaders Ive had the privilege to know.""His calm collected demeanor and unwavering commitment to excellence left a lasting impact on everyone around him," Sorensen added in a statement. "His loss is deeply felt across the entire ROTC and Rutgers community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time."ELON MUSK SAYS FORT KNOX GOLD RESERVES SHOULD BE LIVESTREAMEDU.S. Army Cadet Command said the safety of cadets and cadre remains its top priority as training continues and "cadets have access to religious affairs or spiritual counseling and support as required."Fort Knox houses the U.S. Bullion Depository, often simply called the "Gold Vault." Built in 1936, the vault is believed to hold a large portion of U.S. gold reserves. The last audit happened in 1976.President Donald Trump in February said he wanted to visit Fort Knox along with Elon Musk and his so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) at the time to verify the presence of gold.Fort Knox also hosts a wide range of military and training operations primarily focused on leadership and tactical readiness. Its land navigation sites feature varied terrain, including rolling woods, open fields and gravel roads.

Former two-term Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper is running for the Senate in battleground North Carolina.Cooper announced his candidacy on Monday morning in the open-seat race to succeed Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, who announced late last month that he wouldnt run for re-election in the 2026 midterm elections."I have thought on it and prayed about it, and I have decided: I am running to be the next U.S. Senator from North Carolina," Cooper said in a social media post.Cooper's campaign launch is seen as a major coup for the Democratic Party, as he was the party's top recruit in next year's elections, bolstering their chances of flipping a key GOP-held seat as they try to take a big bite out of the Republicans' 53-47 Senate majority.DNC CHAIR TELLS FOX NEWS DIGITAL DEMOCRATS HAVE HIT ROCK BOTTOM - HERE'S HIS PLAN TO REBOUNDHis announcement was expected, as numerous news organizations, including Fox News, recently reported that the former governor would launch a campaign in the coming days.And this past weekend, at the North Carolina Democrats "Unity Dinner," Cooper teased his run during his speech.He grabbed cheers when he asked people to stand up if they were running for office in 2026 and said, "Hey, I'm not sitting down, am I."Ahead of his launch, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), which is the Senate GOP's campaign arm, targeted Cooper in a digital ad."Roy Cooper is a Democrat lapdog who spent his time as Governor sabotaging President Trump, doing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' bidding, releasing violent illegal aliens into North Carolina streets, and championing radical transgender ideology," National Republican Senatorial Committee communications director Joanna Rodriguez charged in a statement Monday morning.While Cooper isn't the only Democrat to announce their candidacy former one-term Rep. Wiley Nickel launched a campaign in April he will instantly be considered the clear front-runner for the party's nomination in North Carolina.FIRST ON FOX: REPUBLICAN LAUNCHES SECOND STRAIGHT BID TO FLIP DEMOCRAT HELD SWING STATE SENATE SEATCooper, who was a popular governor during his eight years steering North Carolina, was floated last year as a possible running mate for then-Vice President Kamala Harris after she succeeded then-President Joe Biden as the Democrats' 2024 presidential nominee.Cooper is likely to face off in next year's general election with Republican National Committee (RNC) chair Michael Whatley, in what would be one of the most competitive, bruising, and expensive Senate battles of 2026.President Donald Trump, who is the ultimate kingmaker in GOP politics and whose endorsements in Republican primaries are extremely powerful, on Thursday gave Whatley his "Complete and Total Endorsement.""Mike would make an unbelievable Senator from North Carolina. He is fantastic at everything he does, and he was certainly great at the RNC," Trump added, in a social media post.And NRSC chair Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina called Whatley "a strong America First conservative who will be a champion for North Carolina in the U.S. Senate.RNC CHAIR WHATLEY TO SEEK OPEN GOP-HELD SENATE SEAT IN KEY BATTLEGROUND STATEScott noted that "the Tar Heel State has supported President Trump in all three of his elections and elected Republicans to both its U.S. Senate seats for over a decade. With Michael as our candidate, we will win it again in 2026!"Trump called Tillis' announcement last month that he wouldn't seek a third six-year term in the Senate "great news."Tillis is a GOP critic of the president, and Trump torched the senator last month for not supporting his so-called "big, beautiful" spending and tax cut bill.Lara Trump, the president's daughter-in-law and a North Carolina native who served last year alongside Whatley as an RNC co-chair, was considered to be Trump's top choice to run for Tillis' seat.But in a statement on Thursday, Lara Trump said "after much consideration and heartfelt discussions with my family, friends, and supporters, I have decided not to pursue the United States Senate seat in North Carolina at this time."Whatley, who served as chair of the North Carolina GOP before being elected last year as RNC chair, said recently in a Fox News Digital interview that the Senate showdown in the Tar Heel State is "going to be one of the marquee races in the country."