Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and Commerce Minister Li Chenggang in Madrid last week. They announced a "framework agreement" over TikTok, the Chinese-owned app used by millions of Americans.But the story isnt only about TikTok. Its also about how America uses TikTok as a lever and why that lever is more necessary than ever.TikTok is an important issue in and of itself: control over data, algorithmic influence, foreign ownership all of which are critical for national security. In addition, however, TikTok is a tool the U.S. can and should use in ongoing trade engagement, as well as to counter Chinas growing leverage in rare earths, critical minerals and semiconductors.When I served in President Donald Trumps first administration ("Trump 45"), the core issues we confronted included a massive trade imbalance, intellectual property theft, cyber-theft and Chinas Belt and Road infrastructure expansion. These were predatory practices in trade, tech and finance. Today, in "Trump 47," the battlefront has broadened but one thing that hasnt changed is the psychological warfare the Chinese employ any time negotiations are underway.HOW US SHOULD RESPOND AFTER CHINA REJECTS TRUMP NUCLEAR TALKS, SHOWS OFF NEW WEAPONS AT PARADEI was at the center of one of the most dramatic examples of this during Trump 45After an exhausting month of prep work, I boarded my flight to Beijing in March 2018 with wary optimism. I had worked intensively leading up to this trip, drafting a comprehensive framework document outlining a new trade deal with China, a proposal that would overhaul virtually every aspect of the U.S.-China economic relationship.Wed senttheproposal toourChinesecounterpartsseveral days earlier, and now our high-level trade delegation was en route to Beijing to negotiate the largest change to trade relations in at least 10 years. The cast of characters illustrates just how significantthistradedealcouldbe.ItincludedSecretary StevenMnuchin(headofthedelegation),UnderSecretaryDavidMalpassand me(Treasury),SecretaryWilburRoss(Commerce),U.S.Trade RepresentativeRobertLighthizer andseveralofhisdeputies, NEC Director Larry Kudlow, Under Secretary Ted McKinney(Agriculture), and Peter Navarro (special assistant to the president and director of trade and manufacturing policy).TRUMP'S TARIFFS FORCE CHINA TO FEEL THE HEATWe arrived at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing with about an hourtoreviewourplansonemoretimebeforewehadtodepartfor Diaoyutai thestateguesthousewhereMaoandeveryleadersincehasentertainedforeigndignitaries.Buttherewasasurprise waitingforusatourembassy:abrand-newproposal,draftedby the Chinese,which they were putting forth at the eleventh hour, and which we had never seen. It was about 15 pages long and completely in Chinese!Iwasoneofthefewpeopleintheroomwhocouldreadit.Afteraquickscan,Itoldthegroup:"Thisiswhollyunacceptable. This document doesnt say anything theyre just messing with us." A heated debate ensued over how to respond, and how theChinesewerelikelytoreact.Buttherewasnotimetoreachaconsensus;itwastimetoleaveforDiaoyutai.Therewasamassexitfromthesecureroomwherewemetattheembassy,and,almostlikeawell-choreographedballetwith a hundred moving parts, we all shuffled to our designated cars.AsSecretaryMnuchinsteppedintothelimousinetotakeustothemeeting,Malpass insistedthatIridewiththesecretary and pushed me into the seat next to Mnuchin, saying, "We need toknowexactly whatthissays can youtranslateitontheway?"AswespedthroughthestreetsofBeijing,Isatinthebackseat,literally shvitzing as a technical term in Chinese got the better of me, and furiously translated as I read out loud, in English, whattheChinese haddroppedinourlaps.CHINA SHOWS MISSILES, TRUMP SHOWS MUSCLE: XI'S STRATEGY CAN'T MATCH USEven as we climbed the stairs into the building and entered the meeting room, none of us was quite sure how Mnuchin was goingtohandlethishotpotato.AfterVicePremier LiuHesflowing stream of diplomatic pleasantries welcoming us to China,thesecretarycalmlystatedinresponse,"Wereceivedyourdraft. Thanks for sending it over but were going to use ourdraft for today." It wasnt the preamble they expected. But it was entirely consistent with the new tone that President Trump had set fromthedayhetookoffice.Today, China has moved from using tariffs and IP theft to controlling choke points especially in rare earth elements, critical minerals, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing capacity. The numbers are clear indicators of Chinas leverage.China accounts for about 70 % of global rare earth mining and about 90 % of the worlds rare earth refining and separation capacity. In 2023, China controlled 61 % of global mining of rare earth magnet elements and 92 % of refining capacity for those magnets.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONOn semiconductors: while U.S. companies remain strong in chip design and advanced R&D, Chinas share of the semiconductor industrys value-added has surged (from about 8 % in 2001 to over 30 % by 2016), and China is pushing aggressively to become self-sufficient in mature node production.These are not passive metrics. They are active levers China already uses in the trade negotiations through export restrictions, licensing controls or by threatening disruptions. For example, in April 2025 China clearly in response to President Trumps bold tariff moves added export licenses and restrictions for seven heavy rare earth elements, including dysprosium, terbium, samarium, plus rare earth magnetsmaterials critical to EV motors, wind turbines, electronics and defense systems.The challenges faced in Trumps first term have only evolved not eased. The trade deficit is large, IP and tech theft are growing more dangerous, predatory development finance practices continue and Chinas leverage in rare earths, semiconductors and control over supply chains threatens global development and American autonomy.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPTikTok is a headline issue impacting critical issues of data, influence and national security. But it is also an essential lever to counter the new pressure points China is pressing. Madrid and Fridays TrumpXi call offer a chance to reshape this broader contest.As I demonstrate in "A Seat at the Table," President Trumps strategy and policies during his first administration allowed us to exert maximum pressure on our counterparts and to stay the course with firm negotiating positions and clear red lines. Last weeks dialogues demonstrate that Trump will continue to insist on substance over symbolism, an approach critical to our national interest.CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM MITCHELL A. SILK

FIRST ON FOX - The Democratic National Committee (DNC) on Wednesday launched a new digital ad campaign spotlighting what it calls President Donald Trump's "ongoing attacks on free speech" following last week's suspension of comedian Jimmy Kimmel from his late-night TV perch.The spots, which will target a handful of House Republicans in swing districts who face challenging re-elections in next year's midterms, will run on conservative and independent media, including the podcasts of media superstars Joe Rogan and Ben Shapiro, who are very popular among younger and male audiences.The campaign, shared first with Fox News Digital, comes in the wake of ABC's move last week to pull Kimmel's late-night talk show off the air after his remarks about the alleged assassin of Charlie Kirk sparked outrage and a veiled threat from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).SINCLAIR AND NEXTAR STATIONS PRE-EMPT JIMMY KIMMELThe suspension of Kimmel sparked outrage among Democrats and progressives, and even some high-profile conservatives, who said the late-night host was being punished for exercising freedom of speech. Many Republicans countered that Kimmel's comments suggesting Kirk's suspected killer was a MAGA member were outrageous and false.ABC reinstated Kimmel on Monday and his program returned to air Tuesday night, although the roughly 60 affiliated stations owned by Nextar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group preempted the program.DISNEY ANNOUNCES JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE! RETURNING TUESDAY AFTER SUSPENSION"The American people don't support attacks on free speech, which is why Trump is losing support among independent and conservative voters,"the DNC argued in a statement. "The Republican base is fracturing, with Republican figures includingMegyn Kelly, Ted Cruz, and Ben Shapiro loudly breaking with the administration."The DNC ad includes a clip of Trump, during the first week of his second administration, announcing that "on day one I signed an executive order to stop all government censorship."The narrator in the spot later charged that "Trump wants to control what you see so he can control what you think."The DNC says the campaign, which is backed by a modest five figures, will target the congressional districts of Republican Reps. Rob Wittman of Virginia, Jen Kiggans of Virginia, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, and Tom Kean Jr. of New Jersey."Its clear Donald Trump only cares about silencing his critics and now, voters across the country and in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey are going to hear about it," the DNC claimed.FCC CHAIR LEVELS THREAT AGAINST ABC, DISNEY AFTER KIMMEL SUGGESTED CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSIN WAS MAGATrump and many of his top allies, long advocates of free speech, have criticized people who have been critical of Kirk since the conservative activist's assassination earlier this month.The president welcomed ABC's decision to initially pull Kimmel off the air indefinitely. And Trump also suggested axing the broadcast licenses of networks who, in his opinion, treat him too negatively.DNC Chair Ken Martin, in a statement to Fox News, said, "Donald Trumps administration has amassed a chilling record of restricting speech, extorting private companies, and dropping the full weight of the government censorship hammer on Americans simply exercising their First Amendment rights. This is no exaggeration, and its splintering the coalition that got Trump elected."Martin claimed that Trump is "attempting to silence people. Its un-American, and Democrats wont stand for it."CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPRepublicans and conservatives,during the administrations of Democratic Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden railed against what they considered were efforts to muzzle free speech, attacking Democrats for pushing "cancel culture."Trump and his allies are now defending their latest actions by saying that "consequence culture" is replacing "cancel culture."Fox News' Brian Flood contributed to this report.

Russian fighter jets recently entered Estonian airspace a bold incursion that came just nine days after 19 Russian drones swarmed the airspace of fellow NATO member Poland. While the Kremlin has denied any intentional violations of NATO airspace, the evidence suggests that both actions were almost certainly deliberate.These provocations appear to have been designedto test NATO for both operational and political weakness, and to tell the world that Vladimir Putin believes he can behave with impunity in Ukraine and beyond. Indeed, all of Putins recent feints toward peace have been belied by his actions: He followed up his Alaska summit with President Trump in Alaska with the largest aerial attacks on Ukraine of the past year, and ignored the ceasefire deadline offered by the president.As NATO continues its deliberations on a coordinated response to the Polish incident and now Estonia, a unified, decisive and robust rebuke from the entire alliance is of paramount importance. The Western alliance failed to deter Russia in 2014, and again in 2022; with Putin now taking the fight even further into European territory, we cannot afford to show any weakness.The U.S. and our European allies must show Putin that his acts of aggression will not stand, and that for every escalation and provocation, the costs to him will only multiply.TRUMP LIT A FIRE UNDER NATO, BUT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO CONTAIN THE RUSSIA-CHINA AXISNATO is already taking action to strengthen the defense of its eastern flank a salutary measure, but just one piece of the puzzle. The proposedwithdrawal of U.S. military support in the Baltics would send a disastrous signal to the Kremlin, particularly given the incursion into Estonian airspace.Congress and the administration should work together to ensure that the U.S. military presence in the frontline Baltic states remains in place as a key component of NATOs defensive architecture. America and our allies in Europe should take additional steps to bolster the defensive capabilities of NATOs eastern frontier, forge ahead with iron-clad security guarantees to Ukraine, and provide Kyiv with the defensive and offensive weapons it needs to put Russia on the back foot.We also need to make it clear that Russia has torpedoed any prospects for peace talks for the foreseeable future. President Donald Trump has made a good faith effort to facilitate negotiations, but Putin has made it eminently clear that he has no interest in peace. Continuing to indulge the fiction that he wants what we want or worse, that there is any kind of equivalence between Russia as the belligerent party, and Ukraine, the victim of Russian aggression only buys Putin time and leverage.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONNext, as President Trump has made clear, Europe needs to stop buying Russian oil and gas now. Its absurd that after more than three years, some European countries are continuing to supply Russia with the revenue it needs to conduct this brutal war on their own continent. Whats more, with President Trump leading America back to energy dominance, Europe will have alternative suppliers to turn to avoiding price hikes while cutting off precious funding for Putins war effort.The president is also correct to push for a coordinated campaign of financial pressure on Russia and its enablers. This should include sanctioning the Chinese banks that keep the Kremlins war machine moving, imposing crushing tariffs and secondary sanctions on the countries that are keeping the Kremlin afloat through oil, gas, and uranium purchases. Congress should work to pass the bipartisan bill put forward by Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., which includes the measures outlined above as well as expanded restrictions on Russian financial entities and transactions and the Russian energy sector.President Trump understands that peace can only be secured through strength. Its why he pushed for Europe to assume greater responsibility for its own security in both his first and second administrations. As the former secretary of state, I know from experience that this insistence wasnt always welcome but as we all know, it turned out to be prescient. The presidents willingness to have those difficult conversations with our European allies has resulted in the landmark commitment of 5% GDP defense spending for NATO members putting the alliance back on track to reestablish deterrence and restore Europes territorial integrity.America must see that project through. It is critical to Europes security, and to Americas core interests, that we get this right and that can only be done by imposing serious costs on Russia, and by showing Putin that his provocations have only strengthened the NATO alliance.CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM MIKE POMPEO

The 2025 Ryder Cup gala brought together members from Team USA and Team Europe a few days before the first matchups begin at Bethpage Black on Long Island, New York.Before any golf ball was placed on a tee, the American competitors already ruffled the feathers of fans and purists on social media because of the fashion choices they made. The American golfers were seen with their wives and girlfriends in a suit without a tie and with sneakers on their feet.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMThe outfit selections didnt win over any fans ahead of one of the most prestigious tournaments in the sport.There are plenty of storylines going into this years Ryder Cup. Team Europe will look to continue its dominance over Team USA after the pummeling in Rome in 2023. Team USA won at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin in 2021. It was the teams first win since 2016.TRUMP'S RYDER CUP PRESENCE 'EXTREMELY IMPORTANT' AFTER 'TOUGH FEW WEEKS,' SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER SAYSScottie Scheffler leads Team USA on the golf course. Hes put together a dominant 2025 season that included wins at the Byron Nelson, Memorial, BMW Championship and the Procore Championship earlier this month. Not to mention, he won the PGA Championship and The Open Championship this year.Rory McIlroy leads Team Europe into the fray. He completed the career grand slam this year, finally picking up a green jacket with a Masters victory. He also had a victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Players Championship.The Ryder Cup tees off on Friday.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

New York Mets broadcaster Gary Cohen criticized Chicago Cubs player Matt Shaw for missing one of the team's games this past weekend to attend Charlie Kirk's funeral.Cohen's comments came during SNY's broadcast of the Mets' game against the Cubs on Tuesday night, while Shaw was up to bat in fourth inning, calling the decision "weird.""I don't want to talk about any of the politics of it, but the thought of leaving your team in the middle of a race for any reason other than a family emergency, really strikes me as weird," Cohen said.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMFellow Mets broadcaster Todd Zeile called Shaw's absence "unprecedented.""It's unusual, I think it's unprecedented at least from my experience as a player, and I think it made it a little more unusual that it was not revealed until after it came to issue because he was thought to be in the dugout and maybe available, and was not, and that's how it was revealed," Zeile said.Cohen and Zeile were criticized on social media for their comments about Shaw's absence.Shaw missed the Cubs 1-0 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday to attend the memorial service in Glendale, though manager Craig Counsell mentioned to the media that Shaw wasnt available for the game because he was at a funeral for a friend.Shaw explained why he made it a point to attend the memorial despite his teams schedule."My connection with Charlie was through our [Christian] faith," Shaw said before the Cubs opened a new series with the New York Mets on Tuesday, per the Chicago Sun-Times. "And thats something that drives me every day, the reason why Im able to do what I do every day, and thats something Im extremely thankful for."I know without my faith and without the many blessings Ive been given in my life, that I wouldnt be here, be able to talk to you guys, able to help this team eventually go and win championships.CUBS' MATT SHAW LEAVES TEAM TO ATTEND CHARLIE KIRK MEMORIAL SERVICE"Thats something I feel really, really blessed about, so whatever backlash comes is OK. I feel strong about my faith and that what was meant to be happened."Shaw added that he and Kirk became friends last offseason as they lived in the same apartment complex in Arizona. The two stayed in contact throughout the MLB season, Shaw said.Shaw said he was emotional when he found out Kirk was assassinated while at a speaking event at Utah Valley University Sept. 10."When that happened, a lot of emotions came over me," he explained. "I didnt foresee that happening. I dont know how to describe everything that happened, how I was feeling, But I will say I was tearing up pretty good. I had a lot of [teammates] supporting me, and that will be something Ill remember for my entire life."Shaw had been scratched from the Cubs lineup that night before a game against the Atlanta Braves.Kirk, a native of Arlington Heights, a northern suburb of Chicago, was "one of the biggest Cubs fans I ever Met," according to Shaw. In fact, Shaw said it was Erika Kirk, his widow, who asked him to attend the memorial. After a conversation with Counsell and some teammates, Shaw felt his decision to attend was accepted."The reason Charlie and I connected so close was because of our faith," Shaw added. "Thats something that drives me every single day, something that I think about all the time. So, if people are wondering who I am and what I stand for, Id say that my faith and the many blessings Ive been given are why Im able to be here, and I just want to make sure that I can give that back to people, that I can support people around me, that I can love people around me the same way that Ive been blessed."The Cubs were among the MLB teams to pay tribute to Kirk, calling for an end to "all political violence."Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X, and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, a Wisconsin Republican, has announced a Badger State gubernatorial bid."Madison politics may smell like the barn, but I know how to clean up the bull. I will roll up my sleeves and deliver results for every Wisconsinite," he says in a campaign video."I will freeze property taxes, protect our farmland from Communist China, and I'll preserve our Wisconsin values, just like my mom does with her pickles," he says in the video.MILWAUKEE COUNTY EXECUTIVE MOUNTS WISCONSIN GUBERNATORIAL BID, ACCUSING TRUMP OF CHAOS AND CRUELTYTiffany began serving in the U.S. House of Representatives in May 2020 after winning a special election that month to fill the House seat vacated in 2019 by Republican Sean Duffy.Duffy is currently serving as secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation.President Donald Trump won Wisconsin in 2024 and 2016 but lost it in 2020.SWING STATE DEM GOV BOWS OUT OF 2026 RACE, INSISTS HE'D WIN IF HE RAN: NO QUESTIONThe governor's race will be an open contest since current Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, announced earlier this year that he will not run for a third term.Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann, who is also vying for the governorship, said in a post on X, "Welcome to the race, @TomTiffanyWI! Looking forward to a Republican primary focused on ideas and winning back the governors office."FORMER NAVY SEAL AND 'POLITICAL OUTSIDER' ANNOUNCES GOP CAMPAIGN FOR WISCONSIN GOVERNORCLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPManufacturer and former Navy SEAL Bill Berrien, another gubernatorial hopeful, declared in a post, "After years of bureaucratic leadership in Madison, the last thing we need is another career politician at the helm. Instead, we need builders who will create prosperity for all through work, revitalize the manufacturing infrastructure that lies dormant in our state, and jumpstart our economy. As the only builder in this race, Im the strongest general election candidate Democrats will face and they know it!"

Once a member of al Qaeda and the Islamic State and now leading Syrias fragile transition since toppling the Bashar Assad regime,Ahmed al-Sharaa is ready to take to the global center stage at the United Nations General Assembly Wednesday and make his case for a new path forward for his war-torn nation."This marks the first participation in high-level meetings of a Syrian president at the United Nations General Assembly since 1967, so this is a very big deal," Natasha Hall, senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Fox News Digital."On such a historic occasion, what he will try to emphasize and underline is that this is a new day for Syria. They have overthrown the brutal dictatorship of the Assad regime. He will talk about the progress that's been made and what more progress needs to happen in terms of recognition and the lifting of U.N. sanctions to help Syria move forward," Hall added.TRUMP'S MIDDLE EAST TOUR BEGINS WITH SYRIA LOOMING AS STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITYA high-ranking Syrian government official confirmed to Fox News Digital that al-Sharaa will use the opportunity at the U.N. to present Syrias vision for stability, reconstruction, and reconciliation."The most important issues he will raise include the need to lift all forms of unilateral sanctions that continue to hinder Syrias recovery, the importance of combating terrorism in all its forms, the return of displaced Syrians and refugees, and the advancement of a genuinely inclusive political process rooted in the will of the Syrian people," the Syrian official said.Al-Sharaa, who led the Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) to victory over Assad, ditched his military fatigues for a Western-style suit and has been on a charm offensive, hosting European and Western diplomats and politicians in hopes of bringing Syria out from its international pariah status.The new Syrian leader received an unprecedented endorsement from President Donald Trump when the two met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in May.Trump called al-Sharaa a "young, attractive, tough guy," announcing that the U.S. would lift sanctions in place since the Assad era and even discussed normalizing relations.Hall noted that al-Sharaa might be looking to secure a security pact between Israel and Syria along the UNGA sidelines, emphasizing that he seeks a Syria that is at peace with its neighbors and doesn't want to position Syria to be a threat to any outside forces, particularly Israel.He will also be looking to secure much-needed reconstruction aid to rebuild a country ravaged by 13 years of civil war. The cost for reconstruction is estimated to be between $250 and $400 billion, and 16.7 million people, or 75% of the population, are in dire need of humanitarian assistance, according to the U.N.Since seizing Damascus, he has publicly said all the right things. He promised an inclusive government that would represent all religious and ethnic factions in Syria, uphold womens rights, and protect minority rights.ISLAMIST GROUP RUNNING SYRIA HAS MIXED RECORD OVER GOVERNANCE IN PROVINCE, RULED WITH 'IRON FIST'Al-Sharaa also fulfilled promises to target ISIS and other terrorist groups operating in Syria. One month after taking power, Syrian security forces seized a shipment of heavy ammunition destined for Hezbollah in Lebanon, once a key ally of the Assad regime and Irans Axis of Resistance.While optimism for a new Syria remains high, some caution its still too soon to judge al-Sharaa as a Western ally given his terrorist past."Al-Sharaa is not a democrat. He ruled Idlib without power-sharing. So far, in terms of control of vital government functions like security, foreign affairs, intelligence and justice, he has put loyalists in place," former U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford told Fox News Digital.Ford, who was the last U.S. ambassador in Damascus in 2011, said the crucial question is whether, over time, individual political and civil liberties will be respected and that people maintain, as they have now, the freedom to organize and protest."Al-Sharaa's heavy hand ruling Idlib prior to Assad's fall has been lighter in Damascus, Aleppo and elsewhere. But so far, there is more political freedom to speak and protest in Syria than in many other countries in the region, such as Egypt, Algeria and some Gulf states," Ford added.Ambassador Barbara Leaf, who served as assistant secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, visited Damascus and met with Shara in December, becoming the highest-ranking official to meet with Syrian leadership since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011.Leaf, a distinguished diplomatic fellow with the Middle East Institute, told Fox News Digital about her initial contact with Shara right after HTS overthrew Assad. Her mission was to get eyes on him, to assess him and to send a clear signal on U.S. expectations if he was going to lead a new Syria."My takeaway from the meeting was that he came across as somebody who was very well-prepared for the discussion. He had clearly anticipated all of the topics that I raised and he had pretty thoughtful responses with a readiness to engage," she said.Al-Sharaa made a point several times to say that Syria would no longer be a threat or a staging point for threats against its neighbors, including Israel, and that he would not allow the Iranians, Hezbollah, or Palestinian groups, to use Syrian territory to conduct terrorist activities, the ambassador said."I came to the sense that he was already making a shift from being a military commander to being a politician, to being a political leader," Ambassador Leaf noted.While Ambassador Leaf highlighted his pragmatism, his true intentions as the new leader of Syria remain murky.The ambassador said that it appears al-Sharaa has traveled a trajectory away from his jihadist terrorist past, but it remains a question how far he is willing to go to effectuate what she believes is an intention to form an Islamist style of governance.CHRISTIAN WATCH GROUP RISES UP TO PROTECT COMMUNITY AMID GROWING VIOLENCE IN SYRIA"Does he want to formulate a kind of Islamist governance, conservative governance and social order that, frankly, Syria has not seen? And would he be willing to use force to get there? That's an unknown," the ambassador cautioned.Whats concerning for Ambassador Leaf and others is that many of the people serving in key roles in the transitional government are close associates of al-Sharaa and others affiliated with HTS and other allied armed rebel groups."Al-Sharaa is still engaged in a careful balancing act within his own government between liberal opposition voices, former regime bureaucrats and more Islamist proponents aligned still with HTS mission and principles," Caroline Rose, director of The New Lines Institute, told Fox News Digital.EVANGELICAL LEADER SAYS US MUST PROTECT SYRIAN CHRISTIANS FROM ATTACKS BY JIHADI TERRORISTSRose, who traveled to Syria earlier this year, said that Syria's complex political dynamics have led not only to gridlock but even incapacity in times of crisis, "such as failure to rein in radical Sunni fighters during violent outbreaks in Latakia and Suwayda, but also policies appeasing more conservative elements of al-Sharaas support network, such as the ruling requiring full-body swimwear at Syrian pools and beaches."While Syrias new government has looked to consolidate control over a restive society, Sharas forces had to manage a fragile society divided along ethnic and religious lines.Syria has experienced a wave of sectarian violence since the revolution to overthrow Assad. Government security forces retaliated after forces loyal to the Assad regime launched an attack in the coastal city of Latakia, Assads hometown. In total, around 1,400 people, mostly civilians, were massacred, according to the U.N. Most of the victims from the Alawites, a minority group in Syria, which the Assad family belonged to, as well as from the Druze community.It was the worst episode of violence since the overthrow of Assad in December 2024.Clashes between Bedouin tribes, Druze militias, and government forces in Suweida led to hundreds of deaths and drew in Israeli military intervention to protect Syria's Druze minority. A ceasefire was eventually agreed to but the spiraling ethnic violence highlights Syria's rocky transition.The country's dwindling Christian community has also felt the brunt of extremist violence. In June, the Islamic State was suspected of carrying out a deadly suicide bombing at a Greek Orthodox church in Syria, which killed 22 worshipers and injured 63 others. Christians have also been attacked and, in some cases, killed, allegedly by forces tied to the al-Sharaa government.The new authorities will also have to incorporate Kurdish forces operating in Northeast Syria, where the Syrian Democratic Forces have been crucial to the U.S.-led counter-ISIS campaign. Any disruptions in the merging of the SDF into the Syrian state raises the risk of an ISIS resurgence.

FIRST ON FOX: The Utah County Sheriff's Office said the suspect accused of assassinating Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk remains within a "special housing unit" of a jail, even though his mental evaluation has been completed.Kirk was taken to a local hospital in critical condition following the shooting on Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, where he later died, officials said. Tyler Robinson has been charged with aggravated murder, two counts of obstruction of justice and felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, two counts of witness tampering and commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child.Utah County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Ray Ormond told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that Robinson saw mental and medical staff at the jail, but will remain within the special housing unit."Robinson has been seen by our medical and mental health staff. Due to patient privacy regulations, I'm not able to [go] further into that," Ormond said. "Robinson will stay in our special housing unit for the time being."COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CHARLIE KIRKWhen asked if Robinson will remain in the special housing unit indefinitely, Ormond said, "That's not set in stone and his housing location may change down the road."Previously, the law enforcement agency said Robinson would remain on a special watch status in the Utah County Sheriff's Department special housing unit so staff could "keep an eye on him" until he cleared a mental health screening."Special watch" status is done for several reasons, including violent behavior, type of crime, suicidal comments and behavioral issues, the department said.CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION SUSPECT UNDER 'SPECIAL WATCH' IN CUSTODY, BEING KEPT IN SEPARATE HOUSING UNITPreviously, the department said it wasn't aware of Robinson making any suicidal comments.Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told Fox News Digital the mental health evaluation likely "suggests that he should not be housed with the general population," as Robinson remains within a "special housing unit.""A full mental health evaluation will be conducted by his defense team to try to negotiate a plea deal to save his life, to put on an insanity or diminished capacity defense during the guilt phase, which is challenging under Utah law, or to put on evidence of mitigation during the death penalty phase," Rahmani said.Fox News Digital's Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.

Vice President Kamala Harris' inner circle crafted a "Red File" contingency plan in the event something "traumatic" happened to President Joe Biden, the former vice president revealed in her new memoir "107 Days."While the Biden campaign maintained that he was running for re-election until the moment he suspended his campaign, Harris' brother-in-law, Tony West, created a succession plan long before the president's consequential announcement, according to Harris."A year earlier, he had started what he called the Red File,'" Harris wrote in her book. "With a president in his eighties, he suggested, it would be malpractice on my part to be unprepared if, God forbid, something should happen."West had made a list of the first dozen calls to world leaders and political leaders, a plan for when to release her first statement and the rules of the transition. The "Red File" only grew as the pressure for Biden to drop out intensified, Harris said.KAMALA HARRIS BREAKS SILENCE ON BIDEN DROPOUT, ADMITS SHE HAS REGRETS ABOUT HER HANDLING OF SITUATIONIn the event of "such a traumatic moment," Harris said, West explained to her that it would be "prudent to have a plan for the first twenty-four to forty-eight hours, so people don't have to make a lot of decisions in the pressure of a crisis."KAMALA HARRIS REVEALS WHAT BIDEN TOLD HER JUST BEFORE CRUCIAL DEBATE WITH TRUMP THAT LEFT HER 'ANGRY'Harris said she didn't want to think about such a reality, despite being the vice president to a president in his eighties, so she "left it in his hands."Because Harris didn't want to be involved in such discussions, she said West met with four members of her core team during one family weekend."Let's assume he's dropping out tomorrow," West said, according to Harris.Brian Fallon, Harris' communications chief, who she said participated in the meeting, said Biden dropping out was "not going to happen," because the president was meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that week.News broke that Biden was dropping out on July 21, 2024, as Harris' team discussed the upcoming Democratic National Convention. Her team didn't realize then that Harris would be the candidate to formally accept the Democratic nomination at the convention.When Harris hung up the phone with Biden, West was the first person she spoke to."If this isn't handled right, he will crap all over his legacy," Harris recalls West telling her after momentarily staring at each other, shocked and in disbelief.After Biden told his former running mate that he was endorsing her, Harris said she thanked him and said, "I will do you proud.""You're gonna do great, kid," Harris said Biden told her.Twenty-two minutes later, Biden announced on X that he was dropping out, Harris said."Twenty-seven minutes after that, he endorsed me as the Democratic candidate president of the United States."While Harris did not want to be involved in the "Red File" discussions, her inner circle's shadow plan allowed the vice president to quickly launch her 107-day presidential campaign.West became one of Harris' "chosen committee of advisors," as the campaign launched into full-gear. The committee was involved in critical decisions, like choosing Harris' running mate and debate prep.West is currently the senior vice president, chief legal officer and corporate secretary at Uber. During President Barack Obama's administration, he was twice confirmed by the Senate to serve as a senior official, including as associate attorney general of the United States.He met Maya Harris during law school, and they married soon after graduation, according to Harris' book.Harris described him as a "political thinker, working on campaigns since he was a teenager.""Doug and I have taken to affectionately calling him our fifty-year-old teenage son, given how much we love taking care of him when he stays with us," Harris wrote.Biden's team declined to comment on the book when reached by Fox News Digital.

Former Antifa activist Gabriel Nadales praised President Donald Trumps executive order designating Antifa a domestic terrorist organization, telling Fox News the step was long overdue."This is a long time coming, and I hope that Congress really follows suit and helps define what this means," Nadales said Tuesday on "Fox & Friends First."His appearance on the Fox News Channel came days after Trump signed an executive order with the formal designation, asserting that the left-wing activist group poses a direct threat to the U.S. government, law enforcement and rule of law.MEET THE RADICAL DC ACTIVIST MOBILIZING GANG MEMBERS, 'HARDCORE MEN' TO TARGET FEDERAL TAKEOVER: 'REAL ENEMY'Nadales, who has said he left Antifa as his political beliefs shifted, said Trump's order means that many of the "self-described" and "localized" groups under the Antifa umbrella could now be labeled domestic terrorist organizations."There's this idea that Antifa is merely an idea and, to an extent, that is true, but Antifa is a very collective or a specified set of ideas that believes in political violence to enact its own political goals. That is literally the definition of terrorism," he said."So if you call Antifa just an idea, it is literally the idea of terrorism itself."Trump's order branded Antifa as a "militarist, anarchist enterprise that explicitly calls for the overthrow of the United States government, law enforcement authorities, and our system of law."DAVID MARCUS: DEMOCRATS MUST STOP THEIR DEADLY ANTI-FASCISM COSPLAY"It uses illegal means to organize and execute a campaign of violence and terrorism nationwide to accomplish these goals."Antifa claims to be an "anti-fascist" movement that also opposes white supremacy and far-right extremism.The group, however, has come under fire for wearing all black and concealing their identities and using tactics like doxxing, violence and intimidation.Nadales said giving Antifa the "domestic terrorist" label could have two effects: first, helping law enforcement address what he called "terror cells," and second, launching a public-relations battle challenging the groups identity as "anti-fascist.""Antifa continues to claim itself as the anti-fascist, and [say], 'If you are against Antifa, you're pro-fascist,' but nothing can be further from the truth," he said."To combat Antifa is to combat political violence, no matter where it comes from, because, to a great extent, a lot of these Antifa activists, they are themselves the terrorists, they are themselves the fascists, so labeling them as domestic terror groups, it really helps in the battle against Antifa in the PR realm, because it really shows them for what they are. They are a domestic terrorist movement."Fox News' Alexandra Koch and Sophia Compton contributed to this report.