The 2025 Nathans Hot Dog Eating Contest will feature the legendary competitive eater Joey Chestnut back on the Coney Island boardwalk after missing the 2024 competition.As a result, many believe he will reclaim his belt.Chestnuts partnership with Impossible Foods caused an issue last year, and it ended up keeping him out of the competition. This year, though, Chestnut announced that he and the organizers had found common ground on sponsorships.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM"Im thrilled to be returning to the Nathans Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. This event means the world to me. Its a cherished tradition, a celebration of American culture, and a huge part of my life," Chestnut wrote on X."While I have and continue to partner with a variety of companies, including some in the plant-based space, those relationships were never a conflict with my love for hot dogs. To be clear: Nathans is the only hot dog company Ive ever worked with.JAKE PAUL FACES UNUSUAL CALL OUT FROM FORMER BOXING CHAMPION"I respect that there were differences in interpretation, but Im grateful weve been able to find common ground. Im excited to be back on the Coney Island stage, doing what I live to do, and celebrating the Fourth of July with hot dogs in my hands! Stay hungry!"Chestnut is hungry to be a champion again, and sportsbooks dont have anyone remotely close to beating him.Last years winner, Patrick Bertoletti, who ate 58 hot dogs in 10 minutes, has big odds to defeat Chestnut and the rest of the field.If he does win, Chestnut would extend his record for the famous contest to 17 yellow belts.Although he didnt participate in last years competition, Chestnut did go up against another legendary competitive eater, Takeru Kobayashi, in a Netflix special event called "Unfinished Beef." He ate 83 hot dogs, which marked the most eaten in the history of competitive eating without being dunked in water.On the womens side, Miki Sudo, who has won three times in a row now, is expected to get her 11th pink belt in Coney Island for her career. Her biggest competition will be Domenica Dee and Michelle Lesco, the latter of whom snapped Sudos win streak in 2021.For those unaware of Nathans rules, the time limit is just 10 minutes in both the mens and womens contests.The contestant who not only consumes, but also keeps down, the most hot dogs and buns within the 10-minute limit is determined the winner.In the rare event a tie occurs, the contest will go to an untimed "eat-off," where the first contestant to put down a specific number of hot dogs, with the buns, wins.The last time there was an eat-off was 2008, where Chestnut won by eating five hot dogs and buns in 50 seconds.The womens contest will occur first at 10:45 a.m. ET before the men take the stage at noon on July 4.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X, and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

As the nation celebrates the Fourth of July, Americans across the country are chowing down on some classic favorites everything from burgers to baked beans to potato salad.But what were the Founding Fathers eating during the Continental Congress in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776?Some records still survive of their time 249 years ago.ORDINARY ANCIENT ROMANS ATE 'LUXURY' MEAT AT FAST-FOOD SHOPS, NEW RESEARCH REVEALSJane Hampton Cook, a presidential historian and the author of "Battlefield Blessings: Stories of Faith & Courage from the Revolutionary War," told Fox News Digital about the food choices of the representatives of the 13 colonies.The Library of Congress still has Thomas Jefferson's memorandum books, which show that he paid for beer on July 6, 1776, two days after the Declaration of Independence was adopted, said Cook.John Adams' diary is also a rich source of information about what they dined on, Cook said."John Adams ate many dinners with other members of the Continental Congress," the historian said. "They dined at different houses in Philadelphia."One meal stood out to Adams and he wrote about it in great detail, Cook said.MCDONALD'S PRICES FROM 1991 IGNITE DISCUSSION AMONG NOSTALGIC MILLENNIALS: 'IT TASTED BETTER, TOO'Though his host was a plainly dressed Quaker, Adams observed lavish hospitality in a diary entry from the First Continental Congress."But this plain Friend, and his plain, tho pretty Wife, with her Thee's and Thou's, had provided us the most costly entertainment Ducks, Hams, Chickens, Beef, Pigg, Tarts, Creams, Custards, Gellies, fools, Trifles, floating Islands, Beer, Porter, Punch, Wine and a long &c," Adams wrote in his diary.Michael Politz, founder of Food & Beverage Magazine and an American history aficionado, told Fox News Digital that Adams regularly griped to his wife Abigail about the "very indifferent" meals in Philadelphia."He described frugal, uninspired fare and lackluster service in taverns that definitely wouldn't have earned any modern culinary accolades," Politz noted."Jefferson, ever the gourmand, kept quiet about the food during Congress itself, but his later culinary obsessions are well documented."So, what food was in season in the summer of 1776? Philly's markets would have been stocked with loads of different produce, including strawberries, blackberries and early blueberries, said Politz.CELEBRITY CHEF GUY FIERI'S MESSAGE TO AMERICANS: LET'S 'EAT BETTER' TO LIVE BETTERFarmers would also offer spinach, dandelion greens and lettuce in addition to corn, peas and beans. Popular local herbs would have included thyme, sage and mint.Politz also noted that they ate meats like pork, chicken and beef, plus fish from the Delaware River. To wash it all down, they'd opt for cider and ale.Most of their eating was done in taverns, Politz said, which were the "epicenter of public life."For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyleTavern meals were practical, quick and often shared, said Politz. They served as community places where delegates could build consensus, forge alliances and further the fight for independence."The City Tavern, in particular, was where deals were struck, roast dinners were served, and politics mixed with ale Delegates like Adams, [Benjamin] Franklin and [George] Washington dined there regularly, often at a large table reserved for Congress members," Politz said.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER"The menu? Wild game, seafood, dried fruits, chowders, puddings, pies and local produce."But Adams' New England palate didn't mean that all of Philadelphia's food was lacking.Compared to other colonies, Philadelphia's cuisine "was more diverse and cosmopolitan," said Politz."Its food scene blended English, German and Dutch influences think scrapple, sausages, fresh pretzels, smoked meats and plenty of root vegetables," he said."Even as the nation was being born, the Founders' plates reflected the practical, vibrant and diverse food culture of Philadelphia."Politz added, "Food wasn't just fuel. It was part of the political process."

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele has released a video highlight reel showing Kilmar Abrego Garcia apparently thriving during his imprisonment, in an attempt to refute the migrants claims that he was tortured while in custody.Abrego Garcia, who waserroneously deported by theTrump administrationto El Salvador and then returned after a court order, is seen in the video gardening, playing soccer, fishing and enjoying other leisurely activities while imprisoned in his home country.The video appears at odds to Abrego Garcia's claims in legal filings that he was severely beaten, deprived of sleep and psychologically tortured while detained in the countrys Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT, a notorious anti-terrorism prison.According to court documents,Abrego Garcias physical condition deteriorated quickly upon arrival there and, within two weeks, he lost roughly 31 pounds.ABREGO GARCIA SAYS HE ENDURED BEATINGS, TORTURE IN SALVADORAN PRISON AHEAD OF CRIMINAL TRIALBut Bukele pushed back against those claims on Thursday, claiming he actually put on weight and released video evidence to refute claims of torture.The video shows Abrego Garcia in seemingly good spirits, playing chess and soccer, working out with fellow inmates, doing gardening and relaxing while watching a widescreen television in his cell, among other leisurely activities."If hed been tortured, sleep-deprived, and starved, why does he look so well in every picture?" Bukele wrote on X. "Why would he gain weight? Why are there no bruises, or even dark circles under his eyes?""The man wasnt tortured, nor did he lose weight. In fact, photos show he gained weight while in detention. Theres plenty of footage from different days, including his meeting with Senator Van Hollen, who himself confirmed the man seemed fine."Bukele went on to rip the mainstream media for seemingly believing the claims.TRUMP'S REMARKS COULD COME BACK TO BITE HIM IN ABREGO GARCIA DEPORTATION BATTLE"Apparently, anything a criminal claims is accepted as truth by the mainstream media and the crumbling Western judiciary," Bukele wrote.UnderBukeles state of emergency, the government has detained more than 1% of the Central American nations population in its war on the countrys gangs. The president has turned what was once the most dangerous country in the world -- with a homicide rate of 103 per 100,000 people in 2015 -- into one of the safest in the Western Hemisphere, with 1.9 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2024. The U.S. rate was 5.5 per 100,000 people in 2023, which are the most recent records available.Hundreds of people have died in the El Salvador prisons, according to the Associated Press, citing human rights groups, which have also documented cases of torture and deteriorated conditions.Abrego Garcia, who was living in Maryland after coming to the U.S. illegally, was deported to El Salvador in March 2025. He became a prominent face of the Democrats' resistance to the Trump administrations mass deportation plans.The Trump administration accuses them of being an MS-13 gang member, a human trafficker and a serial domestic abuser amid police reports by his wife that he used violence against her.Abrego Garcia's lawyers claimed when he arrived at the prison hewas immediately frog-marched to his cell by prison guards, who kicked him with boots and struck him with wooden batons along the way, leaving visible bumps and bruises across his body.He and other detainees in the cell slept on metal mattresses, with minimal access to food and satiation. They were also forced to kneel for approximately nine hours, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., "with guards striking anyone who fell from exhaustion," per the filings.They claim he was also psychologically tortured and received threats of violence during his time at CECOT where prison guards repeatedly told him they would transfer him to other prison cells housing violent gang members, whom they assured him would "tear" him apart.Fox NewsBreanne Deppisch andThe Associated Press contributed to this report.

Joey Chestnut's return to Coney Island on the Fourth of July may come with somewhat of a wrinkle.Chestnut was ineligible to compete in last year's Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest following a dispute stemming from his signing with Impossible Foods.However, with weeks to spare, the sides all worked out a deal to get the GOAT of competitive eating back in Brooklyn on Independence Day.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMHowever, Chestnut will be joined by the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).In a press release sent to Fox News Digital, PETA said that "Tommy Tofu and his PETA pals will be right there at Nathans Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, distributing hundreds of tasty vegan hot dogs as they challenge hungry spectators to enjoy a free, flavorful Fourth that is also animal-friendly.""Vegan hot dogs are delicious and kind, and who really wants to support slaughterhouses -- the word is enough -- by buying what comes out of them," PETA executive Tracy Reiman said to TMZ. "PETA encourages everyone to let freedom ring for all by leaving animals in peace this Fourth of July and beyond."NATHANS HOT DOG EATING CONTEST: JOEY CHESTNUT RETURNS TO CONEY ISLAND AS HEAVY FAVORITEChestnut has actually dealt with a protester during the competition before. About halfway through the 2022 event, protesters rushed the stage at least one wearing a Darth Vader mask while carrying signs that read "Expose Smithfield Deathstar." Smithfield is a major food processing company out of Smithfield, Virginia, specializing in pork products. Nathans Famous is an all-beef frank.All with a cast on his leg from a ruptured tendon, Chestnut put a protester in a headlock and dropped him to the ground. He still managed to put down 63 dogs and win the event convincingly, although he claimed it cost him five wieners.Last year, PETA planned to "bombard the competition's spectators" and brought a truck to encourage fans to go vegan.Chestnut is, obviously, the overwhelming favorite for Friday's event, as he has won 16 of the last 17 contests he has competed in, only losing to Matt Stonie in 2015. His record is 76 dogs and buns.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X,and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

A World War II veteran who is 102 years old has become a viral sensation on TikTok, sharing his experiences of wartime stories.Jake Larson, aka "Papa Jake," spoke with Fox News Digital about serving the country and shared what Independence Day means to him. (See the video at the top of this article.)Larson of Lafayette, California, fought in six battles during World War II while storming Omaha Beach on D-Day and then in the Battle of the Bulge.AMERICA'S OLDEST JULY 4TH PARADE MARKS 240 YEARS OF PATRIOTIC TRADITIONHe was born in Owatonna, Minnesota, enlisting in the National Guard in 1938 at age 15 and lying about his age."Growing up on a farm during the Depression with no electricity, running water or money has made me appreciate the independence and freedom we have today," Larson said.He was 18 years old when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Larson joked that he "didn't even know Pearl Harbor existed."After Pearl Harbor, Larson spent three years in Europe."I just came from the infantry. I got in on the planning of D-Day. Not only did I get in on the planning of D-Day ... I landed on Omaha Beach and that night I was put in charge of Omaha Beach," he said.Larson said he was assigned to the night shift for the G3 and continued this duty through the Battle of the Bulge.On D-Day, he was out in the water up to his chin carrying his rifle over his head."Ive drawn eight rounds, and I'm holding that up over my head, so I wouldn't get the ammunition wet," he said.MILITARY HEROES TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN LIFE WITH HELP OF UNIQUE 'COFFEE MEETINGS'"But I was more afraid of the small arms fire we were receiving from the shore."He added, "They're shooting at you from the shore, you're walking over landmines. This is unbelievable."He added, "The most unbelievable part of it is I came to six of those events without a scratch."About 66,143 of the 16.4 million Americans who served in World War II were alive as of 2024, according to statistics from the U.S.Department of Veterans Affairs."At the beginning of World War II, Great Britain and Ireland were full of American soldiers fighting for the entire worlds freedom alongside them," said Larson.For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyleAuthor of the book "The Luckiest Man in the World," Larson also spoke of his gratitude toward those who paid the ultimate service to their country."Their souls are looking down on me now. Every time I talk, I like to remind people that those guys upstairs, looking down at us, they're the heroes," he told Fox News Digital. "I'm just in there doing the job.""I don't think any of us ever thought we'd be heroes. We didn't go over there to be heroes. We went over to kick Hitler's [butt] out of Europe."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTERHe added, "And we did it. We did it!"Larson told Fox News Digital the Fourth of July is a special time for him to reflect on family and freedom."When the Fourth of July comes around each year, I think about how lucky we all are living in this country. In this country, we dont care where you came from were all Americans. If you fight for our freedoms in America, you are an American."

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard called out the Washington Post and its reporter and accused them of "actively harassing" her staff in an X post on Thursday."It has come to my attention that Washington Post reporter @nakashimae appears to be actively harassing [Office of the Director of National Intelligence] staff. Instead of reaching out to my press office, she is calling high level Intelligence Officers from a burner phone, refusing to identify herself, lying about the fact that she works for the Washington Post, and then demanding they share sensitive information," Gabbard wrote.The post continued, "Apparently, publishing leaked classified material wasn't enough for the Washington Post, so now theyve decided to go after the Intelligence professionals charged to protect it."GABBARD SLAMS 'POLITICALLY MOTIVATED' SURVEILLANCE AS EFFORT TO 'INTIMIDATE' HER FOLLOWING CRITICISM OF HARRISGabbard also accused reporter Ellen Nakashima of being the same reporter who "stalked" her family in Hawaii and suggested it was part of a political op."This kind of deranged behavior reflects a media establishment so desperate to sabotage @POTUSs successful agenda that theyve abandoned even a facade of journalistic integrity and ethics. The Washington Post should be ashamed, and they should put an end to this immediately," she wrote.The Washington Post executive editor Matt Murray later responded to Gabbards post and stood by Nakashima in a statement on X."For three decades, Ellen Nakashima has been one of the most careful, fair-minded, and highly regarded reporters covering national security. Reaching out to potential sources rather than relying solely on official government press statements regarding matters of public interest is neither nefarious nor is it harassment. It is basic journalism," Murray said.DNI TULSI GABBARD REFERS ALLEGED INTELLIGENCE LEAKERS FOR PROSECUTION; DETAILS POSSIBLE MOTIVESHe called Gabbards post an "unfounded personal attack" that revealed a "fundamental misunderstanding about the role of journalists to report on government officials and hold power to account."In a comment to Fox News Digital, Gabbards deputy chief of staff Alexa Henning pointed to an X post she made after the Washington Post released its statement."Not a denial," she wrote.Fox News Digital also reached out to Nakashima for comment.In November, several days after being nominated for her director position, Gabbards former chief of staff, Kainoa Penaroza, accused Washington Post reporter Jon Swaine on X of "stalking" Gabbards former employees and coming to his door uninvited.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The Boston Red Sox are in Washington, D.C., for a three-game holiday weekend series against the Nationals, and they opted to be VIP tourists during their off day.The Sox didn't have a game on Thursday, so several players took a trip to the White House to visit President Donald Trump.Trevor Story, Justin Wilson, Abraham Toro, Romy Gonzalez, Connor Wong, Greg Weissert, Wilyer Abreu, Garrett Whitlock, Brennan Bernardino and Rob Refsnyder all shook hands with Trump in the Oval Office.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM"The team toured the White House today as part of their family road trip to D.C.," a team spokesperson said, via MassLive.Normally, a team visiting the White House to visit the president is saved for celebrating a championship, but apparently, an exception was made.Red Sox manager Alex Cora has been critical of Trump in the past - so much so, to the point that he opted out of visiting the White House in 2019 to commemorate the team's World Series title from the year prior.During an interview on "The Mayor's Office" podcast back in January, Cora admitted that he skipped out on meeting Trump because he wanted to prioritize his home country of Puerto Rico. When the Red Sox visited the White House in May 2019, Puerto Rico was still recovering from the destruction of Hurricane Maria in 2017, and Cora wasn't satisfied with the federal government's response.GUARDIANS STARTER LUIS ORTIZ'S SUSPICIOUS WILD PITCHES AT HEART OF MLB GAMBLING INVESTIGATION"One of the things that it's not that I regret, but I think I should've been more clear it was a visit to the White House," Cora said. "I have nothing against the President at that moment. It was Donald Trump at that moment, President Trump, but I felt me celebrating something at that stage, while [Puerto Ricans] were still suffering, it was bad. I didn't feel comfortable doing it."Cora says he would have felt "awkward" celebrating at the White House, given the state of his country at the time."We are part of the United States," he continued. "What they do for us is amazing the funding, all of that but there was still work to do. And I felt very awkward, like, 'let's celebrate this at the White House' right while a lot of people suffered here. People took it like politics. No. My thing is sports and my family, right?"Mookie Betts also opted to skip that year's visit, but he did attend the celebration earlier this year for the reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers.The Sox-Nats series begins at 11:05 a.m. on Friday.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X,and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

President Donald Trump says that his sweeping domestic policy bill that squeaked through both houses of Congress this week along near-party-line votes is "very popular" with Americans.Asked about a slew of national polls conducted last month which indicated that most Americans were far from thrilled with the massive spending and tax cut bill, the president told reporters early Friday morning, "I think it's very popular. It does many things, but one of them is the biggest tax cuts in our country's history. And that alone makes it very popular."The president spoke as he returned home from a July 4th-eve event at the Iowa State Fairgrounds where he headlined a kickoff celebration of next year's 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.'BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL ON WAY TO WHITE HOUSE AFTER NARROWLY PASSING FINAL HURDLE IN CONGRESS"There could be no better birthday present for America than the phenomenal victory we achieved just hours ago," Trump told the large crowd in Des Moines, Iowa, as he referred to the move by House Republicans in a 218-214 vote hours earlier to lift the so-called "One Big Beautiful Bill" to final congressional passage.Earlier in the week, Vice President JD Vance broke a tie in the Senate to pass the measure 51-50.WHAT'S ACTUALLY IN TRUMP'S BIG BEAUTIFUL BILLTrump noted that "not one Democrat voted" for the bill in either chamber of Congress, adding that "they hate Trump. But I hate them too."The president had repeatedly insisted to the Republicans who control Congress that the bill reach his desk by July 4th, and Trump got his way. He's expected to sign the measure at the White House at 5pm ET.The bill is stuffed full of Trump's 2024 campaign trail promises and second-term priorities on tax cuts, immigration, defense, energy and the debt limit.It includes extending his signature 2017 tax cuts and eliminating taxes on tips and overtime pay.By making his first-term tax rates permanent - they were set to expire later this year - the bill will cut taxes by nearly $4.4 trillion over the next decade, according to analysis by the Congressional Budget Office and the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.HOW MUCH THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL WILL CUT YOUR TAXESThe measure also provides billions for border security and codifies the president's controversial immigration crackdown.As Democrats criticize the bill, theyre highlighting the GOPs restructuring of Medicaid the nearly 60-year-old federal program that provides health coverage to roughly 71 million low-income Americans. Additionally, Senate Republicans increased cuts to Medicaid over what the House initially passed in late May.The changes to Medicaid, as well as cuts to food stamps, another one of the nation's major safety net programs, were drafted in part as an offset to pay for extending Trump's tax cuts. The measure includes a slew of new rules and regulations, including work requirements for many of those seeking Medicaid coverage.Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Commnitte, called the measure "one of the worst bills in our nations history.""Today, Donald Trump and the Republican party sent a message to America: if you are not a billionaire, we dont give a damn about you," Martin argued.Overall, the $3.4 trillion legislative package is projected to surge the national debt by $4 trillion over the next decade.By a 21-point margin, voters questioned in the most recent Fox News national poll opposed the bill (38% favored vs. 59% opposed).HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS POLLINGThe bill was also underwater in other national surveys conducted last month by the Washington Post (minus 19 points), Pew Research (minus 20 points) and Quinnipiac University (minus 26 points).About half of respondents questioned in the Fox News poll said the bill would hurt their family (49%), while one quarter thought it would help (23%), and another quarter didn't think it would make a difference (26%).Sixty percent felt they had a good understanding of what is in the measure, formally known as the One, Big, Beautiful Bill, and while those voters were more likely to favor the legislation than those who are unfamiliar with it, more still think it will hurt rather than help their family (45% vs. 34%).The latest surveys all indicated a wide partisan divide over the measure.According to the Fox News poll, which was conducted June 13-16, nearly three-quarters of Republicans (73%) favored the bill, while nearly nine in ten Democrats (89%) and nearly three-quarters of independents (73%) opposed the measure.But Republicans are shining a spotlight on a poll conducted by a GOP-aligned public policy group that indicates strong support for the bill due to the tax cut provisions.A release earlier this week from the group, One Nation, argued that "polling shows that the public supports the Republican plan to cut taxes for families, eliminate taxes on Social Security, overtime, and tips, and reign in waste and abuse in the federal budget."Fox News' Dana Blanton contributed to this report.

Ben Shelton was serving for the match at the Wimbledon Championships on Thursday, but he had to wait until the next day to do so.That's because his second-round bout against Rinky Hijikata was suspended due to darkness.Shelton was leading, 6-2, 7-5, 5-4, when the match was called, and he clearly was not happy - play was suspended at 9:29 p.m. local time, and both players had made arguments to suspend play earlier in the match.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMShelton approached the umpire and had to be held back by another official to calm him down.Well, Shelton and Hijikata returned to the court early Friday morning to finish the match - and it took one minute to do so, as Shelton advanced to the third round."It was difficult. At that point, we kind of knew that we were playing in conditions that weren't ideal for tennis. For me, it was like, whats one more game at that point?' Shelton said after the match. "I understand the tournament's gotta make whatever decisions they make, and the players gotta live with that. For me, I live with it. I came out today, and I did what I do.TOP-RANKED AMERICAN TENNIS STARS FALTER AT WIMBLEDON WITH EARLY-ROUND DEFEATS"I hadn't gotten broken the whole match. I haven't gotten broken since my first set in my first round, and I felt confident coming out here having one service game to finish it."Shelton said he was unsure of his plans for the day, debating whether he should practice, considering Friday was originally scheduled to be an off day for the 10th-ranked player in the world."It's different. I warmed up for 30 minutes, then spent one minute on the court. A lot more time was spent in the preparation than the actual match," he said.Shelton will face Marton Focsovics of Hungary in the third round on Saturday. His best finish at Wimbledon was lasting to the fourth round last year - he has made the semifinals in both the Australian and U.S. Opens.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X,and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

FIRST ON FOX The Democratic National Committee (DNC) on Friday launched a new campaign accusing President Donald Trump of "killing the American dream"through price hikes, market volatility and the GOP-backed megabill passed by Congress.Party officials plan to lean heavily on the message in the months ahead as they work to broaden their appeal and regain momentum ahead of the 2026 midterms.The DNC's messaging campaign, previewed exclusively to Fox News Digital, seeks to tie Trump directly to recent price hikes on consumer goods, such as groceries and baby food, as well as cost of living increases and insurance costs, which they argue will soar under the so-called "big beautiful bill.""America should be the land of opportunity but under Donald Trump, the American dream is dying," they said Friday in an email previewed by Fox News.The campaign will feature new memos and ads under the broader mantle of the "Trump killing the American dream" campaign, which is slated to run through December.JUDGES V TRUMP: HERE ARE THE KEY COURT BATTLES HALTING THE WHITE HOUSE AGENDAThe initiative is part of the DNCs broader upheaval of its messaging in the wake of the 2024 elections, which saw longtime Democrat voting blocs, including some minority voters and young people, shift towards Trump and the Republican Party.This includes Hispanic voters, whose support for Trump nearly broke even with former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024, according to exit poll data, as well as larger shares of registered Independent voters and young voters.The new messaging strategy unveiled Friday focuses largely on what Democrats argue is the daylight between Trump's campaign trail promises, contrasting his pledge to return America to a "golden age," with the situation for many working-class Americans.TRUMP'S ULTIMATUM TO FEDERAL WORKERS: RETURN TO OFFICE 'OR BE TERMINATED'It highlights expected cuts to Medicaid, food assistance programs and other community-based housing affordability programs that stand to be reduced, if not altogether eliminated, by the Republican spending bill."After ramming Trump's [budget bill] through Congress, one thing is abundantly clear: Republicans own this mess, and it's an albatross around their necks heading into the midterms," DNC Chair Ken Martin told Fox News Digital."This is the least popular legislation in modern history, and the more voters learn about it the more they hate it. That's a clear directive for Democrats we're going to make sure every single voter knows who is responsible for taking away their healthcare, food, hospitals, and nursing homes."That message is expected to be a central Democratic theme through 2026. Party officials say theyre now better positioned to make their case to voters and that the American people, in return, are more willing to listen to them.The launch comes on the heels of the partys "Organizing Summer" campaign, aimed at boosting Democratic operations in battleground states. The DNC has ramped up state-level funding, voter registration and volunteer recruitment drawing more than 15,000 volunteers to date.Officials say they will continue to hammer their message hard in the run-up to 2026, including in 35 Republican-held congressional seats the Democratic Party's House campaign arm has identified as "districts in play" in the 2026 election cycle, or areas where they could find a path to winning back the House majority.Fridays launch is not the first time the DNC has tried to tie Trump to economic pain but past efforts have had limited success. It remains unclear whether this latest push will resonate with Independents and Republicans, who delivered sweeping victories for Trump and the GOP in 2024, especially as the economy shows signs of resilience. Just Thursday, the Labor Department reported the U.S. added 147,000 jobs in June blowing past expectations while unemployment ticked down to 4.1%.However, DNC officials insist the economic situation has changed as a result of tariff threats, volatility and unpopular legislation they see as a new opportunity to break through to voters who may have been less receptive in previous elections.They point to a Congressional Budget Office analysis which estimates the spending bill backed by Trump will increase federal deficits by roughly $2.4 trillion over 10 years and have a knock-down impact on working-class Americans, who could see a spike in insurance costs, housing prices, and cuts to Medicaid, SNAP and education programs, including Pell grants. They also cite projections that the bill could eliminate 1.2 million jobs by 2029."Lets be clear: The Trump administration has taken aim at the very things that make America the greatest country in the world," party officials said."Americans are overwhelmingly rejecting his agenda, rife with buyers' remorse. Democrats are standing with the American people, organizing everywhere, and fighting back in Congress, in the courts, and on the ground in states across the country."Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House and Republican National Committee for comment.