White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre insisted Wednesday that President Biden is “not at all” holding Vice President Kamala Harris back and has been “really clear about passing the torch” following his decision to drop out of the 2024 race. 

Jean-Pierre made the remark after Biden said last night that Harris is “going to cut her own path” if elected president, and just days after reports emerged of growing tension and miscommunication between the White House and the Harris campaign. 

“Kamala and I have specific plans to bring down the cost of housing, child care, elder care and more,” Biden said during a campaign event for Harris in Philadelphia.  

“Every president has to cut their own path. That’s what I did. I was loyal to Barack Obama, but I cut my own path as president. That’s what Kamala is going to do. She’s been loyal so far, but she’s going to cut her own path,” Biden added. 

HARRIS TO SIT DOWN WITH BRET BAIER FOR FIRST FOX NEWS INTERVIEW 

When asked Wednesday at the White House press briefing if Biden feels he has held Harris back, Jean-Pierre said, “No, not at all.” 

“I’m not going to speak to politics from here, but what I can say more broadly is that every president has the opportunity to cut their own path. And the president has been really clear about passing the torch,” Jean-Pierre said, “and seeing Vice President Harris as a leader from day one.” 

“He’s incredibly proud of her. He has supported her from day one,” she also said. “He has said many times the best decision that he made in 2020 was asking her to be his running mate.”

However, an Axios report alleged Sunday that there are growing tensions between the White House and the Harris campaign. 

HARRIS HOLDS SMALL NATIONAL LEAD AS TRUMP INCREASES HIS EDGE ON THE ECONOMY: POLL 

National political correspondent Alex Thompson reported that “many senior Biden aides remain wounded by the president being pushed out of his re-election bid and are still adjusting to being in a supporting role on the campaign trail.” 

Thompson wrote the main issue with some Harris campaign members is that White House aides “aren’t sufficiently coordinating Biden’s messaging and schedule to align with what’s best for the vice president’s campaign.” 

Thompson cited recent conflicts such as Biden holding an impromptu press conference on Friday while Harris was attending an event in Michigan.  

Another notable incident included Biden complimenting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for handling recent hurricanes shortly after Harris criticized DeSantis for not taking her calls. Thompson wrote that a person familiar with the situation said Biden wasn’t briefed on Harris’ comments before praising DeSantis. 

Fox News’ Lindsay Kornick contributed to this report. 

Early in-person voting is preparing to kick off Thursday in North Carolina, one of seven battleground states hotly contested in the 2024 presidential election.

Some North Carolina communities are making last-minute adjustments to their 2024 election schedules in the fallout from Hurricane Helene this month.

In Buncombe County, one of the counties hit hardest by the storm, the board of elections approved new times and locations for early voting. Early in-person voting kicks off Thursday morning, with polls remaining open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Nov. 1.

“We’ve got a new early voting plan,” Buncombe Board of Elections Chair Jake Quinn said in a statement. “Please everybody, spread the word.”

Buncombe is also having to adjust polling locations, as some are no longer fit to serve as polling places or are more difficult to access. The county published a list of locations that are now operating for early voting.

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Buncombe County voted decisively for President Biden in the 2020 election, according to state records. Biden received 96,515 votes, compared to former President Trump’s 62,412, totaling a 60%-40% split.

VIDEO SHOWS HURRICANE MILTON-IMPACTED FAMILY, DOGS RESCUED FROM FLOODWATERS

Nearby Watauga County also released its own revised early voting schedule this month. The county’s board of elections says none of its polling places has changed, but they will now expand their timing to be open on weekends during early voting. Residents will be able to access polling places from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

“We are grateful to all the people that worked so hard to build our county’s infrastructure back so quickly. It is truly amazing to see people from all over the country pitching in to help strangers in need. That’s what America is all about. This helped minimize any disruptions to voters so that every voice can be heard. We also want to thank all the election officials who offered to work the new weekend shifts. We literally can’t do it without them,” the board said in a statement.

NORTH CAROLINA MAN ACCUSED OF THREATENING FEMA WORKERS WITH ASSAULT RIFLE AMID HURRICANE HELENE CLEAN-UP

Biden also took Watauga County in the 2020 election, receiving 53% of the vote to Trump’s 44%.

State election officials are scheduled to hold a press conference Thursday on other measures they are taking to ensure the election goes smoothly.

They say roughly 25 counties were heavily impacted by Helene, and those contain 76 polling locations. Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the NC State Board of Elections and Corinne Duncan, the Buncombe County elections director will lead the press conference.

The majority of North Carolina voters in the 25 counties impacted by Helene are Republican, according to state voter registration records. Officials say 482,930 registered Republicans live in the area, compared to 294,106 Democrats. There are also 492,546 unaffiliated voters.

This is a guide to registration and early voting. For comprehensive and up-to-date information on voter eligibility, processes and deadlines, please go to Vote.gov and the election website for North Carolina.

North Carolina began absentee voting for registered voters in September. Applicants do not need to provide an excuse to receive a ballot. The state must receive a ballot application by Oct. 29, and that ballot must be delivered to county officials by Nov. 5.

Early in-person voting begins Oct. 17. Check the state’s website for more information. The last day to vote in-person is Nov. 2.

North Carolina residents can register to vote online or by mail through Oct. 11. They can also register in-person during early voting between Oct. 17 and Nov. 2.

FIRST ON FOX: A powerful ally of Vice President Kamala Harris, who she has praised as an “extraordinary leader” who exhibits “courageous leadership,” met with multiple CCP officials during a business trip to China, where he vowed to “[spread] the voice of Black businesses,” Fox News Digital has learned.

Ron Busby, who has visited the Biden-Harris White House dozens of times and is the longtime president of the U.S. Black Chambers, met with several CCP officials during a previously unreported trip to China, a Fox News Digital review found.

Busby traveled to Beijing, Shanghai, and Xi’an for a 10-day trip as part of a delegation of New York government officials and business leaders, including then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s chief diversity officer Rose Rodriguez, who were dubbed the “New Majority Alliance.” 

The delegation’s trip in September 2017 was supported by the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in New York, a Chinese government entity in New York that serves as a mouthpiece for the CCP and was recently implicated in an unsealed indictment against a top former aide to New York’s Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul. The New York in China Center, which has offices in New York and Shanghai, was the official sponsor of the trip.

HARRIS VP PICK SPENT YEARS PROMOTING RESEARCH FACILITY THAT COLLABORATED WITH ‘CHINESE MILITARY COMPANY’

John Wang, who was recently appointed in August by New York City’s Democrat Mayor Eric Adams and currently serves on the board of directors for the Empire State Development Board after being nominated in 2022 by Hochul, established the New York in China Center in 2008 to “handle [the Asian American Business Development’s] business in China, New York in China Center facilitates business, investment, technology and cultural exchanges between New York and China…,” the group’s website says. 

Busby’s Facebook profile is littered with photos from the trip, which included a “selfie” of him flying to China with the caption, “On the way to China. Spreading the voice of Black businesses around the globe.” 

Another photo shows Busby and the rest of the delegation sitting around a table with the CCP hammer and sickle emblem on a sign behind them on the wall. After the trip, Busby said in a Facebook post that the United States, Africa, and China “need each other for the new sustainability.”

“Two weeks ago we were in China and we did a similar memorandum of understanding [MOU] with Chinese Chamber of Commerce,” Busby said during the 2017 Essence Festival Durban Business Conference. “[China understands] the importance of being on the continent obviously, but they also understand that there needs to be a relationship between the people on the continent, and they understand that African Americans have a natural relationship here, and so we [three] will work together to bring their resources that they have along with the ingenuity, creativity that we have in the United States, to bring that here. Collectively, all three continents can grow, and they’re very excited as well as we are.”

A 2022 “BLACKprint” report released by Busby’s “U.S. Black Chambers” touted “Black entrepreneurs” getting access to “global business opportunities” and said they have “signed Memorandum of Understandings with business leaders in Durban, Morocco, and China.”

HARRIS CAMPAIGN SILENT ON HOUSE BILL BANNING CONTRACTS WITH ‘CHINESE MILITARY COMPANY’ AMID WALZ TIES

Archived pages on the New York in China Center’s website show dozens of photos from the trip, including 3 separate reports highlighting the delegation’s meetings with CCP officials.

Busby told Chinese officials that the “[U.S. Black Chambers, Inc.] administered more than 100 chambers, and he is willing to share and communicate the resources with Xi’an in various fields,” according to the Xi’an report reviewed by Fox News Digital.

Busby’s position as the president of the U.S. Black Chambers makes him an influential business leader not only in the Black community, but he has been able to leverage his position to participate in meetings with top U.S. government officials, including President Biden, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Vice President Harris, among others on behalf of his group.

Harris “hosted an exclusive reception at her private residence” in July of this year to honor Black business leaders, according to a press release. The reception was in partnership with U.S. Black Chambers, Inc and featured Busby, who said the reception was a “powerful acknowledgment of the remarkable progress Black business leaders have achieved in shaping our nation’s economic landscape.”  

Months earlier, Harris and Busby were in Detroit, Michigan for an economic recovery event, where Harris called Busby an “extraordinary leader” who has exhibited “courageous leadership.” Harris also called Busby her “Oakland brother” during another event in 2021.

“The delegation will meet with government leaders and representatives of the business community in China to have discussions over the topics including Sino-US technological innovation, business development, friendship agreements and other projects,” a press release highlighting the 2017 trip said. The press release went on to say that this trip was an opportunity “to build communication channels and networks for Chinese companies who are looking for development in the United States.”

The Xi’an report also said the delegation met with “Li Yuan, the Vice Mayor of Xi’an. Huang Xiaohua-the Vice Secretary-General of Xi’an Provincial People’s Government, Xing Xin-Director of Xi’an Investment Cooperation Committee, Cai Lanfang-Vice President of Xi’an People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and other representatives.”

Busby’s participation in a delegation meeting with a representative of People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries is likely to face scrutiny due to the U.S. government’s repeated warnings about the group over the years. In 2020, then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo released a press statement warning it is a “Beijing-based organization tasked with co-opting subnational governments” that “has sought to directly and malignly influence state and local leaders to promote the PRC’s global agenda.”

A 2022 report from the Biden administration’s Director of National Intelligence (DNI) also warned about the group and highlighted how U.S.-based Chinese consulates like the one that sponsored Busby’s trip to China “play an active role” in “foreign influence operations” on behalf of the CCP, which was the case with Hochul’s former deputy chief of staff.

Another report from the trip said Busby and the delegation met with Chen Xiangming, Secretary of Shanghai Songjiang District, and several other CCP leaders from the area.

“Mr. Cheng Xiangmin expressed thanks to the New York Center for its long-term work and efforts in establishment of friendship between the two cities, and said he looked forward to strengthening communication with the ‘New Majority’ Alliance and further cooperation in various fields such as science and technology, health care and education,” the report said.

Fox News Digital reached out to Busby, Black Chambers, Vice President Harris’ office, and the New York in China Center, but did not receive any responses.

Five states join the rest of the country on Wednesday as they start the early voting process for the 2024 election.

Iowa, Kansas, Nevada, Oregon and Rhode Island make a total of 49 states and Washington, D.C., that have begun early voting.

Here’s how to cast a ballot in each state.

WORKING CLASS WILL COME HOME TO HARRIS, RALLYGOERS IN POSTINDUSTRIAL PENNSYLVANIANS SAY

Forever a battleground, reliably Democrat: That’s the story of Nevada’s presidential politics.

The state has voted for every Democrat who has run for president since 1992, except the two elections with President Bush on the ballot. But the average margin across those eight elections is just 4.1 points.

There are only six electoral votes at stake, but they could be crucial for either candidate. If Harris wins two of the battleground Rust Belt states but loses Pennsylvania, for example, then a combination of Nevada and North Carolina would make up for the deficit.

Nevada is home to the “Reid Machine,” a voter turnout operation named after late Senate leader Harry Reid, that activates voters favorable to Democrats, especially Hispanic and unionized hospitality workers in the Las Vegas area.

Those groups aren’t as overwhelmingly Democrat as they used to be. The party has shed 10 points worth of the Hispanic vote since 2020 and seven points of the non-college-educated vote.

Voters backed a Republican for governor in 2022; that election came two years after the COVID-19 pandemic decimated the tourism industry. They held on to their Democrat senator.

Republicans do well in the vast rural areas led by Lincoln County, where Trump won by 71 points in 2020, and the state’s northeastern counties.

The battleground is Washoe County, home to Reno. Biden won there by 4.5 points in 2020, making it the state’s closest county.

Nevada is a Toss Up in the Fox News Power Rankings.

The Silver State also has a senate race on the ballot. Democrat Sen. Jacky Rosen seeks a second term in office but faces Republican Army veteran Sam Brown. The Senate race is ranked Lean D.

Finally, Iowa voters start heading to the polls today. Once a hotly competitive state, it voted for Trump by eight points in 2020. Iowa is one of several states dominated by White working-class voters who flipped to Trump in his first run for office and have not gone back.

A recent Des Moines Register survey showing Harris four points behind Trump raised eyebrows, but it would take an extraordinary night for Harris to flip this one.

Voting also begins today in four battleground House districts. For a full list of competitive races, see the latest Senate and House rankings.

This is a guide to registration and early voting. For comprehensive and up-to-date information on voter eligibility, processes and deadlines, please go to Vote.gov and the election website for Iowa.

Iowa began absentee voting on Wednesday. Residents do not need to provide an excuse to receive a ballot. State officials must receive a ballot request by Oct. 21, and that ballot must be delivered to state officials by Nov. 5.

PA TOWN ROILED BY TALK OF MIGRANT HOUSING IN CIVIL-WAR-ERA ORPHANAGE BUILDING

Iowa offers early in-person voting beginning Oct. 16 and running through Nov. 4.

Iowa residents can register to vote in person at any point during early voting or on Election Day. The deadline for online or mail registration is Oct. 21.

This is a guide to registration and early voting. For comprehensive and up-to-date information on voter eligibility, processes and deadlines, please go to Vote.gov and the election website for Kansas.

Kansas began absentee voting on Wednesday. Residents do not need to provide an excuse to receive a ballot. State officials must receive a ballot request by Oct. 29, and that ballot must be delivered to state officials by Nov. 5.

PENNSYLVANIA LEADERS IN BOTH PARTIES TALK GROUND GAME AS GOP SEEKS TO UNDO MASSIVE GAINS

Some Kansas counties offer early in-person voting beginning Oct. 16, but other counties start later. Check the state’s website for more information.

Kansas residents must have registered to vote by Oct. 15.

This is a guide to registration and early voting. For comprehensive and up-to-date information on voter eligibility, processes and deadlines, please go to Vote.gov and the election website for Nevada.

Nevada began absentee voting on Wednesday. Residents do not need to provide an excuse to receive a ballot. State officials began actively sending absentee ballots to eligible voters on Wednesday, and that ballot must be delivered to state officials by Nov. 5.

Nevada will begin early in-person voting on Oct. 19, and it will continue through Nov. 1.

Nevada residents can register online through Election Day, and they can register in person from Oct. 19 to Nov. 1 or in person on Election Day.

This is a guide to registration and early voting. For comprehensive and up-to-date information on voter eligibility, processes and deadlines, please go to Vote.gov and the election website for Oregon.

Oregon began absentee voting on Wednesday. Residents do not need to provide an excuse to receive a ballot. State officials began actively sending absentee ballots to eligible voters on Wednesday, and that ballot must be delivered to state officials by Nov. 5.

Oregon does not offer in-person early voting.

Oregon residents must have registered to vote by Oct. 15.

This is a guide to registration and early voting. For comprehensive and up-to-date information on voter eligibility, processes and deadlines, please go to Vote.gov and the election website for Rhode Island.

Rhode Island began absentee voting on Wednesday. Residents do not need to provide an excuse to receive a ballot. Residents must request a ballot by Oct. 15, and that ballot must be delivered to state officials by Nov. 5. 

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Rhode Island begins early in-person voting on Wednesday, and it will continue through Nov. 4.

Rhode Island can register to vote in person on election day or during early voting. The deadline for online or by-mail registration was Oct. 6.

A Georgia judge stopped a planned hand count of ballots on election night, ruling Tuesday that it would create “administrative chaos” if poll workers were required to handle millions of ballots without being trained.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney found that the controversial rule was “too much, too late” to implement for the 2024 election – which is less than three weeks away.

“The public interest is not disserved by pressing pause here,” he wrote in his decision. “This election season is fraught; memories of Jan. 6 have not faded away, regardless of one’s view of that date’s fame or infamy. Anything that adds uncertainty and disorder to the electoral process disserves the public.”

LOCAL OFFICIALS FACE OFF AGAINST GEORGIA’S ELECTIONS BOARD OVER RULE THAT COULD SHAKE UP NOVEMBER

McBurney said in his ruling that his decision was not final and would be further detailed at a later date, but not until after the election.

“Our Boards of Election and Superintendents are statutorily obligated to ensure that elections are ’honestly, efficiently, and uniformly conducted,’” he said. “Failure to comply with statutory obligations such as these can result in investigation by the SEB, suspension or even criminal prosecution.”

READ THE RULING – APP USERS, CLICK HERE:

The rule, passed by the Republican State Election Board, was set to go into effect Oct. 22, just two weeks before the election, and after early voting in the Peach State is well underway.  

The rule, which McBurney temporarily halted, was pushed through in September on a 3-2 vote but prompted a lawsuit filed by Georgia Democratic officials.

The rule would have required precinct poll managers and poll officers to unseal ballot boxes and count the ballots by hand individually to ensure the tallies match the machine-counted ballot totals.

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.

MILWAUKEE — In a battleground Wisconsin’s biggest blue enclave, people who spoke with Fox News Digital are divided on who they’re supporting in the November presidential election. 

Giovanni Riley is voting for the Democrat nominee, Vice President Harris, he told Fox News Digital. 

When asked what issues sold him on Harris, he said he’s “doing it for the culture.”

Riley said he chose to back Harris “to make sure our people, minorities, get the things and resources that they need and for everyone to be in a good space.”

‘I WAS MUCH BETTER OFF’: THESE VOTERS BACK TRUMP IN TOP BATTLEGROUND COUNTY

According to him, the symbolism of Harris, a Black and Indian mixed-race woman, being president of the United States is important.

“I believe that having a Black president and then going to a female president is something different. That is something that we never had,” he said. “And it just brings hope to our minorities to believe that you can do anything that you put your heart to.”

“And I believe that she’s the one for it.”

‘THE LEFT HAS PERFECTED THIS’: CONSERVATIVES TAKE PAGE FROM OBAMA’S PLAYBOOK IN BATTLEGROUND WISCONSIN

In fact, Riley said he only supported President Biden because of Harris being on his ticket. 

However, not everyone in Milwaukee County shares his view, despite its voting record. 

Steve Batsky told Fox News Digital that he was voting for the Republican nominee, former President Trump, as he did in the past two elections. He cited immigration and the economy as his reasons.

As compared to 2016 and 2020 in the blue area, he said, “I’m seeing more Republican overall support; a lot of Trump signs, a lot of Donovan signs,” presumably referencing Wisconsin state Rep. Bob Donovan.

‘DON’T EVEN KNOW WHO HE IS’: WISCONSINITES TALK HARRIS’ MIDWESTERN RUNNING MATE TIM WALZ

“Again, everything in Milwaukee County tends to be blue,” Batsky said for context. 

Brian Morawski said he sees a variety of Democrat signs in the area in and around Milwaukee and that “People are incorrect in their voting.”

“Actually, I counted signs” outside Milwaukee County, he said. “I was driving west through the state, and there were more corn stands than there were Harris signs.”

“Harris is actually going to lose to corn stands this year,” he laughed. “It turns out that part of Wisconsin is correct.” 

FOR WISCONSIN DEMS, A 2024 WIN IN THE BATTLEGROUND STATE IS YEARS IN THE MAKING

In early October, Milwaukee residents Michaella and Leah Lawrence joined Trump for a press conference on school choice in the city. Speaking with Fox News Digital after the event, Michaella said, “This would be my first year voting.”

Her younger sister will not be old enough to vote next month.

As for what she was hearing from people her age just starting college, Michaella said they are mostly concerned about the costs associated with being in the adult world.

She talked about hearing “people around my age saying it’s really hard. It’s a big struggle finding – like just to live – basic necessities to live.”

“Inflation is like crazy high.”

Leah noted that she and her friends can’t vote but are paying attention.

“Whatever happens with this election, we will be directly affected by that because we will be paying taxes, we will be working, and we’ll just, you know, be out here in the economy,” she said, referring to the added responsibilities that come with turning 18.

“That’s the biggest worry for us,” she said.

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) accused Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) of a “bleak dunk attempt” after he highlighted a headline about her calling out the Biden administration regarding Israel.

“The tragedy in Gaza is 100% on Hamas. Stop using civilians and hospitals as shields, surrender, and release all remaining hostages—and this ends,” Fetterman tweeted when sharing the Ocasio-Cortez-related headline.

Fetterman has been outspoken in supporting Israel and condemning Hamas in the wake of the terror group’s heinous Oct. 7, 2023 attack that included rape, murder, and kidnapping.

AOC RIPS FETTERMAN FOR COMPARING HOUSE TO ‘JERRY SPRINGER’ SHOW: ‘I STAND UP TO BULLIES’

“I dunno man. I care about little kids dying. I care about human rights. I care that billions of US tax dollars’ worth of weapons are carrying out unspeakable atrocities. I care enough for us to do better. Hope this bleak dunk attempt gets you whatever it is you’re going for,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote in response to Fetterman’s post.

Earlier this week, the congresswoman had tweeted, “The horrors unfolding in northern Gaza are the result of a completely unrestrained Netanyahu gov, fully armed by the Biden admin while food aid is blocked and patients are bombed in hospitals. This is a genocide of Palestinians. The US must stop enabling it. Arms embargo now.”

SEN. FETTERMAN HITS BACK AT AOC’S SUGGESTION HE’S A BULLY AFTER HOUSE CLASH: ‘THAT’S ABSURD’

Marking the grim anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack earlier this month, Fetterman noted in a tweet, “On this traumatic One-Year Anniversary of the October 7th Hamas attacks, I share in the collective sorrow for all innocent lives lost. I will continue to be a voice for our ally, for the release of all remaining hostages, and for peace to return.”

Israel launched a war effort in response to the Oct. 7 atrocities last year and Fetterman has been an unflinching supporter of the U.S. ally.

FETTERMAN LAUDS ISRAEL FOR LEAVING IRAN ‘EXPOSED AND HUMILIATED’ AFTER STRIKES ON HAMAS, HEZBOLLAH

“Immediately after 10/7, I strongly affirmed supporting any assistance—financial, military or intelligence—without conditions, in Israel’s war against terrorists,” the senator tweeted last month.

EXCLUSIVE: Former first lady Melania Trump is releasing a special collector’s edition of her new memoir containing exclusive images she photographed at the White House and around the world. 

The collector’s edition of the former first lady’s first-ever memoir, “Melania,” features 256 pages in full color, with each copy signed by Trump. 

MELANIA TRUMP’S MEMOIR SOARS TO TOP SPOT ON SEVERAL AMAZON ‘BEST SELLERS’ LISTS WEEKS BEFORE ITS RELEASE

The collector’s edition includes photos hand-selected by Trump, many she photographed herself surrounding her home and various trips she has taken around the world. 

Fox News Digital exclusively obtained several photos taken by the former first lady featured in the collector’s edition, including a photo of her and former President Donald Trump on their very first date. 

“Donald and I on our first date night,” she told Fox News Digital. “It was an enjoyable and memorable evening.” 

Another photo expected to be featured in the collector’s edition is one that Trump took herself, a photo of Marine One outside the first lady’s room in the White House. 

“The striking view from my room as my husband returns to the White House aboard Marine One,” Trump told Fox News Digital, as she described the photo she captured. “The helicopter’s iconic silhouette against the skyline symbolizes his commitment to service, while the surrounding landscape serves as a reminder of the responsibilities he carries.” 

Another image Trump photographed that will be featured in the collector’s edition is one inside the historic West Wing residence.  

“The West Wing hallway, in the residence, characterized by its iconic window, serves as a significant architectural feature that allows natural light to brighten up the space,” she told Fox News Digital. 

Fox News Digital has learned the collector’s edition of the book is printed on “premium art paper with a special custom white binding and adorned with black foil, blocking, and a ribbon marker.” 

“Writing my memoir has been an amazing journey filled with emotional highs and lows,” the former first lady told Fox News Digital. “Each story shaped me into who I am today.” 

MELANIA TRUMP LAUNCHES JEWELRY LINE TO HONOR MOMS AHEAD OF MOTHER’S DAY, RAISE FUNDS FOR FOSTER KIDS

She told Fox News Digital that “although daunting at times, the process has been incredibly rewarding, reminding me of my strength, and the beauty of sharing my truth.” 

The memoir, according to the press release, is “a powerful and inspiring story of a woman who has carved her own path, overcome adversity and defined personal excellence.” 

“The former First Lady invites readers into her world, offering an intimate portrait of a woman who has lived an extraordinary life,” the press release says. “Melania includes personal stories and family photos she has never before shared with the public.” 

“Melania” is the former first lady’s first book. 

MELANIA TRUMP TO RELEASE FIRST MEMOIR, WILL REVEAL STORIES AND PHOTOS ‘NEVER BEFORE SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC’

During her time as first lady, Trump hosted virtual roundtables on foster care as part of her “Be Best” initiative and focused on strengthening the child welfare system. She worked with members of Congress on legislation that secured funding for grants awarded to youth and young adults currently or formerly in foster care to help pay for college, career school or training. The bill ultimately was signed by then-President Donald Trump in December 2020.

Since leaving the White House, the former first lady has also created special edition Non-Fungible Tokens. A portion of those proceeds also went toward her initiative “Fostering the Future” to secure educational opportunities and scholarships for children in the foster care community.

“Fostering the Future” students are currently enrolled in multiple colleges and universities across the country, with areas of focus primarily on technology and computer sciences. 

Earlier this year, the former first lady also rolled out a jewelry line to honor “all mothers,” telling Fox News Digital that mothers are “the bedrock of the American family.”

A portion of the proceeds from the jewelry line are going toward her “Fostering the Future” initiative.

The memoir is being published by Skyhorse Publishing. 

The Biden-Harris administration now admits that an Afghan national accused of plotting an Election Day terror attack did not undergo certain vetting they previously claimed he passed. 

Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, was never vetted or approved by the State Department for special immigrant (SIV) status, though officials from other agencies had claimed he cleared that stringent process. 

Additionally, sources familiar with the investigation tell Fox News that Tawhedi was not well known to the U.S. government when the administration facilitated his departure to the states, despite his security role with the CIA in Afghanistan. Fox News has learned Tawhedi was employed as a local guard outside the base perimeter and he would not have been among the most thoroughly vetted U.S. partners. 

The news upends claims officials made last week that Tawhedi was vetted three times: first to work for the CIA in Afghanistan, then to come to the U.S. on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) humanitarian parole during the withdrawal and a third time when he was approved for special immigrant (SIV) status after arriving in the U.S. 

AFGHAN ISIS TERROR PLOT: BIDEN ADMIN AGENCIES POINT FINGERS AS LAWMAKERS DEMAND ANSWERS

Officials now acknowledge Tawhedi was never vetted or approved for special immigrant (SIV) status, a thorough State Department process which can take years to complete. The State Department has maintained all along it had no role in Tawhedi’s refugee status, despite what a DHS case agent told investigators – leading to its inaccurate mention in the DOJ criminal complaint. 

Last week, Biden administration officials defended the error, explaining that Tawhedi first entered the country on DHS humanitarian parole – which had its own vetting process – but later applied for SIV status, subjecting him to another round of vetting which he also cleared. Those same officials now admit that claim was wrong, and Tawhedi was never vetted or approved for SIV. 

However, officials now say Tawhedi was subjected to “recurrent” vetting as part of his DHS humanitarian parole under Operation Allies Welcome – but this raises new questions. 

DHS has repeatedly stated that no red flags were identified at any point in Tawhedi’s vetting, but three sources forcefully disputed DHS’ characterization of the vetting process as “thorough.” 

AFGHAN CHARGED WITH ELECTION DAY TERROR PLOT RAISES QUESTIONS, FEARS FROM LAWMAKERS: ‘THIS IS REAL’

According to a 2022 DHS Inspector General Report, DHS did not provide data or evidence to support its claim that “recurrent vetting processes were established for all paroled Afghan evacuees for the duration of their parole period.” The report also stated that DHS admitted or paroled evacuees who were not fully vetted into the United States, in many cases because information used to vet evacuees through U.S. Government databases, such as name, date of birth, identification number, and travel document data, was inaccurate, incomplete, or missing. 

The 2022 audit by the DHS Office of the Inspector General revealed 417 records with a first name unknown, 242 records with a last name unknown and 11,110 records with a birthdate recorded as “January 1.”  Additionally, 36,400 travel records listed “facilitation document” as the document type, and 7,800 records had invalid or missing document numbers. U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not maintain a list of individuals paroled or admitted into the country without proper identification. 

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Recurrent vetting was initiated by CBP for Operation Allies Welcome parolees prior to their arrival in the United States. CBP shared biographical information collected during the initial screening and vetting process with the National Vetting Center (NVC) and designated Vetting Support Agencies (VSAs) – external to DHS –  for recurrent vetting against classified information in NVC and VSA data holdings. 

DHS stated in the 2024 final report that “the National Vetting Center recurrent vetting is ongoing and active for all OAW parolees”, but the agency has also told Fox News, “Vetting is a point-in-time check that evaluates information available to the U.S. Government at that time.” 

Prosecutors say Tawhedi obtained firearms and ammunition to conduct a violent attack on U.S. soil, as well as taking a number of steps to prepare for the alleged plot. He is charged with conspiring and attempting to provide material support to ISIS and receiving a firearm to be used to commit a felony or a federal crime of terrorism. 

Investigators are still working to determine whether Tawhedi was radicalized before or after coming to the U.S.

Fox News Digital’s Louis Casioano and David Spunt contributed to this report.

As the negative media onslaught against Donald Trump grows louder, he is taking on the fact-checkers.

What’s fascinating in the coverage is that the journalists and organizations that do this are treated like prophets handing down the tablets from Mount Olympus. There is no hint, not a whiff, that they might sometimes be wrong or engaging in overkill.

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In a new Gallup poll, 36 percent said they had “no trust at all” in the media, while just 31 percent said they found the media to be fair and accurate a “great deal” or “fair amount.” The distrust was far higher among Republicans than Democrats.

Now skeptics will say that Trump tells a lot of falsehoods, some decisions are clear-cut, and it’s worth trying to hold him accountable. I know these folks work hard, having done a lot of it myself, but sometimes the fact checks are contentious in gray areas, or even over something Trump said jokingly at a rally.

I don’t even have to make the argument that Kamala Harris draws overwhelmingly favorable coverage. Now that she’s come out of her cocoon in the light of slipping polls, sitting down today with Fox’s Bret Baier, she has a short period of time to break through after walling herself off. With Democrats in panic mode, she is also ramping up her rhetoric against the former president. And we’re seeing an explosion of columns and segments on what Harris needs to do to turn her campaign around – free advice from the media.

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As the Washington Post notes, Trump complained about fact-checking by ABC in his debate with Harris (when it did seem like 3 against 1). And in turning down “60 Minutes,” he cited the program’s tradition of fact checking. (He also drew flak from CNBC yesterday after backing out of an interview.)

If there’s one moment that crystallizes the media opposition to Trump, it’s his appearance before the National Association of Black Journalists. The opening question was a diatribe about how he was a horrible racist, building up to why any Black voters should support him. The Harris appearance, by contrast, was practically a lovefest.

Behind the scenes, there was a tense, hour-long impasse in which Trump was refusing to take the stage if there would be fact-checking. When he finally took the stage, the group lied and blamed the entire delay on audio problems.

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How is it that Trump says things that trigger journalistic outrage, sometimes with incendiary language, but raise no doubts among many Republicans? The New York Times offers this explanation: 

“One of the more peculiar aspects of Donald J. Trump’s political appeal is this: A lot of people are happy to vote for him because they simply do not believe he will do many of the things he says he will…

“It’s how they rationalize his rhetoric, by affording him a reverse benefit of the doubt.” 

A 40-year-old Detroit publisher was quoted as saying he didn’t believe Trump would purge the federal government and hire only election deniers: “It could just be for publicity, just riling up the news.”

Whether Trump wins or loses, he will have the support of roughly half the country. In 2020, that amounted to 73 million voters.

And yet most of the mainstream media, with some exceptions, have never really understood the unshakable bond between Trump and his supporters. Most tend to travel in circles where allowing him to be a “danger to democracy” is unthinkable. He has made inroads among Black voters, especially Black men, some of whom say the Democrats make promises at election time and then forget about their community.

In fact, some pundits have unloaded on Trump supporters as being dummies or racist yahoos. That “basket of deplorables” approach means they are failing to grasp how much of the country feels and what their legitimate grievances might be.  That would seem to call for a sweeping reassessment of their views about America if Trump wins a second term, except the media aren’t big on self-reflection.