President Donald Trump on Thursday afternoon shared his excitement with reporters outside the White House following the announcement of the new pope the first-ever American elected to the role."What greater honor could there be," said the president at the West Wing portico. (See the video at the top of this article.)"We were a little bit surprised, but very happy. Its just a great, absolutely great honor," President Trump said.POPE LEO XIV EMERGES AT VATICAN, BECOMES FIRST AMERICAN POPECardinal Robert Prevost, who has taken the name Leo XIV, is the first American pope in the history of the Catholic Church.The president also posted his congratulations on Truth Social."Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope," the president wrote."What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country," the president added.For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyle"I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment," he wrote.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTERThe president did not answer reporters' specific questions as to whether he plans to have Pope Leo XIV visit the White House anytime soon.The Vatican announced the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope in the history of the Catholic Church, shortly after white smoke began pouring from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, as Fox News Digital reported earlier Thursday afternoon.Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti announced Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost's election as pope to the thousands of faithful who descended on St. Peter's Square after the 133 voting cardinals deliberated in the Sistine Chapel for roughly 24 hours.Prevost, a 69-year-old Augustinian, appeared on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica wearing the traditional red cape of the papacy a cape that Pope Francis had chosen not to wear after his election in 2013.Khloe Quill, Anders Hagstrom and Stephen Sorace, all of Fox News Digital, contributed reporting.

The acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is no longer with the agency just a day after telling lawmakers that cutting FEMA, as President Donald Trump has proposed, is a bad move.Cameron Hamilton, who previously served as a hospital corpsman in the U.S. Navy with SEAL Team 8, has led FEMA since January."Effective today, David Richardson is now serving as the Senior Official Performing the duties of the FEMA Administrator," a FEMA spokesperson said in a Thursday email to Fox News Digital. "Cameron Hamilton is no longer serving in this capacity."FEMA IS NOT GOOD: TRUMP ANNOUNCES AGENCY OVERHAUL DURING VISIT TO NORTH CAROLINADeputy Homeland Security Secretary Troy Edgar and Trump advisor Corey Lewandowski requested Hamilton appear at Homeland Security headquarters Thursday morning and informed him of his ouster, Politico reported.While Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have voiced support for eradicating FEMA, Hamilton cautioned Wednesday against eliminating the agency."I do not believe it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency," Hamilton told lawmakers on the House Committee on Appropriations.Days after his inauguration in January, Trump visited North Carolina to oversee the state's efforts to recover from Hurricane Helene, more than 120 days after the storm struck the state. On the trip, Trump floated plans to gut FEMA, which oversaw the disaster relief efforts."I'll also be signing an executive order to begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA, or maybe getting rid of FEMA," Trump told reporters in North Carolina. "I think, frankly, FEMA is not good."

Pope Leo XIV, 69, was elected to take up the papal seat on Thursday, on the second day of the papal conclaves deliberations.Born Robert Prevost on Sept. 14, 1955 in Chicago, Ill., he was a suspected front-runner to succeed Pope Francis after his passing late last month, though some reporting suggested his being an American could actually count against him due to concerns that the U.S. could further exert its geopolitical prowess through the religious leader.Leo XIV was first brought to the Vatican by Francis to serve as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops inJanuary 2023, which is one of the most important positions in the Catholic Church as it vets bishop nominations issued globally.LIVE UPDATES: CARDINAL ROBERT PREVOST ANNOUNCED AS FIRST AMERICAN POPE, TAKING NAME LEO XIVFrancis then elevated him to the position of Cardinal in September 2023.Leo was reported to be closely aligned to Francis's teachings as leader of the Catholic Church, particularly when it came to his positions regarding theenvironment, outreach to the poor and migrants, and opening the Catholic Church to embrace more followers.Before making it to the highest position afforded in the Catholic Church, he first entered the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine in Saint Louis, in 1977, which essentially marked his period of training before he took his "holy orders."In August 1981, he gave his solemn vows, and by 1982 he was ordained as a priest.By 1985 he joined the Augustinian mission in Peru, where he served as chancellor of the Territorial Prlature of Chulucanas for one year.CARDINAL ROBERT PREVOST ANNOUNCED AS FIRST AMERICAN POPE, TAKING NAME LEO XIVBetween 1987 and 1988, he returned to the U.S., where he served as pastor for vocations and director of missions for the Augustinian Province of Chicago, before he returned to Peru for another 10 years to head the Augustinian seminary in Trujillo and teach Cannon Law.Eventually, he made his way back to his hometown, where, in 1999, he was elected provincial prior of the "Mother of Good Counsel" in Chicago.Leo would go on to be elected twice as leader of the Augustinian religious order, a 13th century order founded by St. Augustine.He had caught the attention of Francis, who, after becoming pope in 2013, moved Leo back to Peru in 2014 to serve as the administrator and eventually archbishop of Chiclayo.Leo got his Peruvian citizenship in 2015, where he remained until he was moved to the Vatican in 2023.During his final years in Peru, Leo also served as vice-president of the permanent council of the Peruvian Bishops Conference from 2018 to 2023, which likely helped him secure his role as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops under Francis.The Associated Press contributed to this report.

A pair of hawkish, Trump-supporting Senate Republicans say that any "lasting" Iran nuclear deal would need to be approved by Congress, ideally through a two-thirds majority treaty vote.But scoring a two-thirds majority in the Senate for treaty ratification would require Iran to fulfill a series of steep demands. In addition to getting rid of all of its enriched uranium and centrifuges, GOP lawmakers say it would need to dismantle its ballistic missile program and cease all support for terrorist groups across the Middle East."If they want the most durable and lasting kind of deal, then they want to bring it to the Senate and have it voted on as a treaty," Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said in response to a question from Fox News Digital."That was one reason why President Obama's deal was so weak," Cotton went on. "An agreement between the American president, whoever he or she may be, and a foreign leader, can be reversed by future presidents, which President Trump rightly did seven years ago today."TRUMP TARGETS IRANIAN OIL WITH SANCTIONS, INCREASING PRESSURE ON ISLAMIC REPUBLIC TO MAKE DEAL ON NUKESIn 2015, Cotton led an open letter signed by Senate Republicans to Iranian leaders warning that any nuclear agreement not approved by Congress could be undone by a future administration. The move was widely viewed as a direct effort to undermine President Barack Obamas ongoing negotiations.Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., echoed the call for congressional oversight, saying that "at a minimum" any deal must go through the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (INARA), which passed Congress in 2015 with resounding bipartisan support and guarantees lawmakers a chance to review any accord reached with Tehran.Graham said he had told Secretary of State Marco Rubio there was "no way" to get 67 votes to ratify a treaty agreement without Iran totally dismantlingits nuclear and missile programs and support for terrorism.WHITE HOUSE CALLS YEMEN CEASEFIRE A 'WIN' EXPERTS WARN HOUTHIS MAY NOT HOLD THE LINEThe senators also drew a parallel with the so-called 123 agreements the legal frameworks that govern U.S. civil nuclear cooperation with foreign nations. These agreements require strict safeguards to prevent the development of nuclear weapons."It's also customary in some cases for the Congress, not just the Senate, to pass ordinary legislation that supports the so-called 123 agreements," Cotton noted, suggesting that any comprehensive deal with Iran should be treated with similar legislative rigor.Cotton and Graham spoke to reporters after introducing a resolution outlining "acceptable" terms of an Iran deal, including total cessation of uranium enrichment.According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran has amassed enough highly enriched uranium to potentially build several nuclear weapons if it chose to do so though U.S. intelligence assessments maintain that Tehran has not yet made a decision to weaponize.Both U.S. and Israeli officials have ramped up their threats against the regime. Trump has made clear that if talks go south, the U.S. will engage in direct military action to thwart Irans nuclear program.Graham suggested the regime only has "weeks" to acquiesce to a deal."We're not talking about long, protracted negotiations," the South Carolina Republican said. "We're talking weeks, not months, not years. The potential of Iranian breakout looms large here. Israel's desire to bring closure to this issue looms large here."

Fox News Channel will air special editions of "Special Report" and "Hannity" live from the Middle East next week during President Donald Trump's first visit of his new term.Hosts Bret Baier and Sean Hannity will host their respective shows, "Special Report with Bret Baier"at 6 p.m. ET, and "Hannity" at 9 p.m. ET, live from the region.Baier will report live from the region Monday through Friday, and Hannity will broadcast live Tuesday through Thursday. Baier's coverage will include an interview with Trump on Friday, May 16, from the United Arab Emirates.Hannity will also speak to the president on Air Force One during the trip.ISRAEL SAYS TRUMPS MIDDLE EAST VISIT IS THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY FOR HOSTAGE DEALBaier and Hannity will also speak to world leaders throughout the week, broadcasting from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Doha, Qatar; and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Their interviews will cover developments from the trip and other news of the day.A senior Israeli defense official said Monday that Trump's upcoming visit to the Middle East is the "window of opportunity" to secure a hostage deal, or Israel will initiate a new military operation in the Gaza Strip as its war with Hamas continues."If there is no hostage deal, Operation 'Gideon Chariots' will begin with great intensity and will not stop until all its goals are achieved," the official said according to a Reuters report in reference to a Sunday night decision by Israels security cabinet to expand operations in the Gaza Strip.Trump's visit to the Middle East also comes on the heels of halting bombings against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, as well as a pressure campaign by the administration against Iran to reach a nuclear deal.CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTUREThe Trump administration on Thursday targeted Iranian oil with a new slate of sanctions a move that increases pressure on the Islamic Republic amid talks between U.S. and Iranian officials to make a deal to prevent nuclear proliferation, Fox News Digital has learned.The Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control increased pressure on Irans export of oil on Thursday, designating the "teapot" refinery Hebei Xinhai Chemical Group Co., Ltd., and three port terminal operators in Shandong province, China, for their role in purchasing or facilitating the delivery of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of Iranian oil.Fox News' Caitlan McFall and Brooke Singman contributed to this report.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts used a public appearance Wednesday to stress the importance of an independent judiciary, doubling down on defense of the courts under fire by President Donald Trump and his allies, who have accused so-called "activist judges" of overstepping their bounds.Asked during a fireside chat event in Buffalo, New York, about judicial independence, Roberts responded in no uncertain terms that the role of the federal courts is to "decide cases, but in the course of that, check the excesses of Congress or the executive."That role, he added, "does require a degree of independence."BOASBERG GRILLS DOJ OVER REMARKS FROM TRUMP AND NOEM, FLOATS MOVING MIGRANTS TO GITMO IN ACTION-PACKED HEARINGRoberts' remarks are not new. But they come as Trump and his allies have railed against federal judges who have paused or halted key parts of the president's agenda. (Some of the rulings they've taken issue with came from judges appointed by Trump in his first term.)The Supreme Court is slated to hear a number of high-profile cases and emergency appeals filed by the Trump administration in the next few months, cases that are all but certain to keep the high court in the spotlight for the foreseeable future.Among them are Trump's executive orders banning transgender service members from serving in the U.S. military, restoring fired federal employees to their jobs and a case about whether children whose parents illegally entered the U.S. and were born here should be granted citizenship. Oral arguments for that last case kick off next week.TRUMP-ALIGNED GROUP SUES CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS IN EFFORT TO RESTRICT POWER OF THE COURTSJust hours before Roberts spoke to U.S. District Judge Lawrence Vilardo, a high-stakes hearing played out in federal court in Washington, D.C.There, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg spent more than an hour grilling Justice Department lawyers about their use of the Alien Enemies Act to summarily deport hundreds of migrants to El Salvador earlier this year.Boasbergs March 15 order that temporarily blocked Trumps use of the law to send migrants to a Salvadoran prison sparked ire from the White House and in Congress, where some Trump allies had previously floated calls for impeachment.Roberts, who put out a rare public statement at the time rebuking calls to impeach Boasberg or any federal judges, doubled down on that in Wednesday's remarks."Impeachment is not how you register disagreement with a decision," Roberts said, adding that he had already spoken about that in his earlier statement.In the statement, sent by Roberts shortly after Trump floated the idea of impeaching Boasberg, said that "for more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision," he said."The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose," he said in the statement.

President Donald Trump is considering a small tax increase for wealthy Americans to help pay for his priorities to boost the middle and working classes.A source familiar with Trump's thinking told Fox News Digital that Trump is considering allowing the rate on individuals making $2.5 million or more to increase by 2.6%, from 37% to 39.6%.He quietly pushed Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on the idea in a phone call on Wednesday, two people familiar with conversations told Fox News Digital.It comes as Republicans work on a massive piece of legislation advancing Trump's priorities on taxes, border security, immigration, energy, defense and the national debt, which the president has dubbed his "big, beautiful bill."MEET THE TRUMP-PICKED LAWMAKERS GIVING SPEAKER JOHNSON A FULL HOUSE GOP CONFERENCEDiffering projections show the bill is likely to add trillions of dollars to the country's deficit over the next 10 years, so fiscal hawks are looking for ways to mitigate that and set up America for a less bloated government down the line by pairing the new priorities with deep spending cuts elsewhere.The tax portion of the bill is expected to be the costliest portion.Republicans are hoping to extend the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) as well as pay for newer Trump priorities like eliminating taxes on tips, overtime wages and retirees' Social Security.TCJA previously lowered taxes for the highest bracket from 39.6% to 37%, but that's set to expire at the end of 2025. Trump wants to restore that top bracket, albeit for people making significantly more money than the current threshold. The current top tax bracket is $609,350 for single income earners.The source familiar with Trump's thinking said doing so would help pay for his "massive" tax cuts for the middle and working classes, as well as protect Medicaid coverage for millions of Americans.Punchbowl News first reported details of the Trump-Johnson phone call.BROWN UNIVERSITY IN GOP CROSSHAIRS AFTER STUDENT'S DOGE-LIKE EMAIL KICKS OFF FRENZYIt's not clear yet what Republicans will decide, or even if they will ultimately decide to raise taxes on the highest earners but details are expected to emerge in the coming days.The Ways & Means Committee, the House's tax-writing panel, is expected to meet on Tuesday afternoon to advance that portion of Trump's bill.Talks about potential tax hikes on the wealthy have triggered a deep rift within the Republican Party.Mainstream conservatives have balked at discussions of raising rates on anyone, arguing it would have a negative impact on job creators, while populist and more moderate Republicans have floated such ideas in order to pay for Trump's priorities to benefit the middle and working classes."Raising taxes on America's highest earners and biggest job creators makes no sense," Marc Short, a former chief of staff to ex-Vice President Mike Pence and a key part of TCJA negotiations, told Fox News Digital."I don't understand why there are some inside the current administration who are pushing Congress to raise the top rate, because again, these are America's job creators."Other Republicans told Fox News Digital in recent weeks that they believe the idea could be popular, however."I'm open-minded to what the president or the treasury secretary may have in mind. And I would want to see some numbers behind it and how it would have an effect on the economy," conservative Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind., told Fox News Digital in late April."What I've heard from people in the upper tax brackets is, you know, they're willing to pay more as long as they know that it's paying the debt down. They don't want to see it go toward more spending."Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and Johnson's office for comment.

The Vatican on Thursday announced that Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost, will take up the highest authority in the Catholic Church after only two days of deliberation and voting by the papal conclave.Upon the announcement of the first American pontiff to be elected, world leaders began reacting with their own messages of support and good wishes.FIRST AMERICAN ELECTED PONTIFF, GET TO KNOW POPE LEO XIVPresident Donald Trump took to his social media site to offer his "congratulations" and said, "It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope."What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country," he added. "I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!"Chicago's Mayor Brandon Johnson, the current leader of Leos hometown, posted his excitement of the news on X and said, "Everything dope, including the Pope, comes from Chicago! Congratulations to the first American Pope Leo XIV!"We hope to welcome you back home soon," he added.Italys leader, President Giorgia Meloni, who was reportedly close with Pope Francis, extended her "most sincere wishes to Pope Leo XIV for the beginning of his pontificate.""In a time marked by conflict and unrest, his words from the Loggia delle Benedizioni are a powerful call for peace, brotherhood and responsibility," she said in reference to the central balcony at St. Peters Basilica. "A spiritual legacy that follows the path traced by Pope Francis, and that Italy looks at with respect and hope."DAVID MARCUS: POPE LEO XIV'S GREATEST CHALLENGE IS ALREADY CHANGING THE WORLDThe government of Peru where Leo spent more than a decade serving in the Catholic Church and where he was appointed bishop in 2014 before getting his dual citizenship in 2015 offered its congratulations from President Dina Boluarte, offering their "fraternal greetings" to the pontiff."He served our people with love and faith. In his first message as pontiff, he recalled with emotion his time in Chiclayo and his closeness to Peru," the statement highlighted. "May God bless him in his mission!""Congratulations to the entire Catholic Church for the election of the new Pope Leo XIV as [Pontiff]," the President of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, the leader of the predominantly Catholic country, said on X. "May his pontificate contribute to strengthening dialogue and the defense of human rights in a world that needs hope and unity.""A historic moment for the Catholic Church and its millions of faithful," French President Emmanuel Macron said. "To Pope Leo XIV, and to all Catholics in France and around the world, I extend a message of fraternity."On this May 8th, may this new pontificate be one of peace and hope," he added in apparent reference to the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe.CARDINAL ROBERT PREVOST ANNOUNCED AS FIRST AMERICAN POPE, TAKING NAME LEO XIVUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wished Pope Leo congratulations along with "wisdom, inspiration, and strengthboth spiritual and physicalin carrying out his noble mission.""Ukraine deeply values the Holy Sees consistent position in upholding international law, condemning the Russian Federations military aggression against Ukraine, and protecting the rights of innocent civilians," he continued. "At this decisive moment for our country, we hope for the continued moral and spiritual support of the Vatican in Ukraines efforts to restore justice and achieve a lasting peace."UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the appointment of the first American pontiff a "momentous moment" and said, "The election of Pope Leo XIV is a deeply profound moment of joy for Catholics in the United Kingdom and around the world."I look forward to meeting the Holy Father soon," he added.The President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, wrote on X, "We congratulate His Holiness Leo XIV, elected by the College of Cardinals as Head of Vatican City State and spiritual leader of the Catholic Church."I reaffirm our humanist convergence for world peace and prosperity," she added.

Weight training is essential to good physical health and is especially important for aging well. A study by Harvard researchers found that middle-aged men who could do 20 push-ups had better heart health over time.Push-ups are a versatile bodyweight exercise that effectively builds strength, particularly in the upper body, core and legs. They are also easy to fit into any fitness routine. If you find it difficult, add modifications like getting on your knees to build strength.Strengthen your push-up game with these five fitness gadgets:These Ultimate Body Press Push-Up Blocks support a relaxed, flat palm position, with fingers extended over the side of a raised surface to relieve strain. You can also try these more traditional push-up handles, $9.98 at Walmart, to give yourself more space for a wider range of motion. This can help improve shoulder stability and strength.START GETTING IN SHAPE FOR SUMMER WITH THIS AT-HOME WORKOUT EQUIPMENTFor assistance with your push-ups, try this Slingshot Push-Up Band, $47 at Walmart. This band is designed to help you execute push-ups with the correct form and efficiency. The deeper you go into the movement, the more assistance you receive. Its flexible construction and double-ply chest portion make it easier for you to put on and take off. Using these bands during push-ups can help increase resistance and make the exercise more challenging, leading to greater strength gains.Original price: $279Dumbbell exercises like chest presses and rows build chest, shoulders and tricep strength to support push-ups. Start with this set from Walmart, which includes five pairs of rubber hex dumbbells ranging from five to 25 pounds. The set includes an A-frame storage rack to save floor space. You can buy a similar set of weights on Amazon for $189.WOMEN'S JEANS TO FIT YOUR SPRING STYLEOriginal price: $45.99Pull-ups are a great exercise for building upper body strength, including the back muscles that stabilize the shoulders during push-ups. This freestanding pull-up bar dip station is a great option that accommodates all levels. This freestanding bar from Walmart, on sale for $48.64, has a thickened steel pipe and a reinforced structure for stability and support.For more Deals, visit www.foxnews.com/category/dealsOriginal price: $162.49This bench can be used for incline push-ups, which focus on the upper chest, or for triceps dips, which target the triceps muscles crucial for push-up performance. The weight bench features eight back and three seat positions, allowing you to complete a full-body workout.

Charles Barkley does not believe ESPN host Stephen A. Smith has a shot at becoming president.Barkley, 62, responded emphatically when asked about Smiths chances of one day sitting in the Oval Office."Hell no! Come on, stop it." Barkley said during a recent appearance on OutKicks "Dont @ Me with Dan Dakich."CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM"Hey, hey, Dan, knock it off right now. Stop it. Come on man, dont do that."Barkley said Smith is a friend of his and implored him to "stop" entertaining the possibility of running for president.The Basketball Hall of Famer thinks Smith is on TV too much and that people could get "sick" of him."I was in the studio last night and I saw he was going to be on Law & Order tonight. I mean he is already on General Hospital, hes already on General Hospital, now he is going to be on Law & Order tonight, and I was just laughing. I was like, Yo man, you are starting to be too much right now," Barkley said.FORMER WNBA STAR CHINEY OGWUMIKE TOUTS STEPHEN A SMITH'S DEBATE SKILLS AHEAD OF POSSIBLE PRESIDENTIAL RUN"Like, you are going to be on CNN, you are going to be on Fox & Friends, now you on General Hospital, now you on Law & Order, Im like, Yo man, knock it off. Stop being on every TV show because at some point people are going to get sick of you, and you are going to be like, Yeah I probably did too much. But once you do too much, its too late and people dont take you serious, and I think hes got to be careful in that aspect."Barkley said he wants to be on TV less and less, because "less is more.""My friends close to me give me a lot of credit, and Im not blowing my own horn, I want to be on TV as less as possible, to be honest with you Dan. Thats why I only do a couple commercials a year. I dont go on a bunch of shows, less is more, because the more you do, the less people take you serious. And I dont feel the need to grab every dime, I dont feel the need to grab every dime at my disposal," Barkley said."Ive been arguing with my agent, he said we could do five-seven commercials a year, I said we are going to do two commercials a year, thats it. I dont want to be on TV all the time. I get sick of seeing myself do March Madness, but I dont want to be on TV all the time and I dont do a bunch of TV stuff because I dont want to people get sick of you, thats my number one thing. People will get sick of you, so I dont want to be on TV more, I want to be on TV less."Smith posted to X in April that he is "leaving all doors open" regarding the possibility of running for president, but said he "hate(s) the thought of being a politician."Whether Smith decides to run for president or not, its clear that Barkley doesnt think the ESPN host has a chance.Follow Fox News Digitals sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.