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Theodore Olson, the former conservative lawyer who argued the 2000 Florida vote-recount case on behalf of President George W. Bush, has died at the age of 84, his firm announced Wednesday. 

There was no immediate cause of death given for the former solicitor general, who is also remembered for teaming up with David Boies – his opponent in Bush v. Gore – to help overturn California’s Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriages. 

“Ted was a titan of the legal profession and one of the most extraordinary and eloquent advocates of our time,” Barbara Becker, chair and managing partner of Gibson Dunn, said in a statement. “He was creative, principled, and fearless — a trailblazing advocate who cared about all people. We mourn his loss profoundly and send our condolences to his wife Lady, a cherished member of our firm family, and to all of Ted’s loved ones.” 

The firm said Olson, over his career, “argued 65 cases in the Supreme Court, including the two Bush v. Gore cases arising out of the 2000 presidential election; Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission; Hollingsworth v. Perry, the case upholding the overturning of California’s Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriages; and U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security v. Regents of the University of California, successfully challenging the Trump Administration’s rescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.” 

FLASHBACK: OLSON’S LATE WIFE BARBARA CALLED HIM DURING 9/11 HIJACKING 

“Ted’s Supreme Court arguments included cases involving separation of powers; federalism; voting rights; the First Amendment; the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses; patents and copyrights; antitrust; taxation; property rights; punitive damages; the Commerce Clause; immigration; criminal law; securities; telecommunications; the internet; and other federal constitutional and statutory questions,” the firm also said. 

Olson served as the Justice Department’s assistant attorney general in charge of the Office of Legal Counsel between 1981 and 1984. He later was solicitor general of the U.S. between 2001 and 2004, during Bush’s first administration, according to Gibson Dunn. 

In addition to those federal roles, Olson acted as private counsel to Bush and former President Ronald Reagan. 

Since 2009, Olson served on the Board of Trustees for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute. 

GEORGE W. BUSH OFFERS NO ENDORSEMENT IN 2024 ELECTION 

“His wisdom, candor, and willingness to help – no matter how busy he was – made him an invaluable member of the Foundation and Institute’s Board of Trustees,” Fred Ryan, the chairman of the board, said in a statement obtained Wednesday by Fox News Digital. 

“Ted Olson wasn’t just President Reagan’s attorney – he was his friend and confidant, and that friendship and bond only grew stronger after Ronald Reagan left office,” Ryan also said. “The President often credited him for keeping his spirits up when times were tough and President and Mrs. Reagan tried to return the favor when Mr. Olson lost his [former] wife, Barbara, who was onboard the hijacked airplane that crashed into the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.” 

Gibson Dunn added that Olson “was twice awarded the U.S. Department of Justice’s Edmund J. Randolph Award, its highest award for public service and leadership, and also received the Department of Defense’s Distinguished Service Award, its highest civilian award, for his advocacy in the courts of the United States, including the Supreme Court.” 

Gibson died at a hospital in Falls Church, Virginia, according to The Washington Post. 

The White House released a fact-sheet about the Biden administration’s work at the U.N. Global Climate Change Summit being held this week, detailing the work the U.S. delegation will undergo while in attendance. 

The U.S. delegation, according to the fact sheet, will focus on three main pillars while at the climate conference in Azerbaijan, one of which is to address the national security “risks” that climate change poses. 

“At COP29, the U.S. delegation will promote U.S. efforts to seize the economic opportunities of the clean energy transition, address the risks climate change poses to our national security, and accelerate climate action in this decisive decade,” the fact sheet stated.

BIDEN ADMIN TOUTS JOB WELL DONE REPLENISHING OIL RESERVES DESPITE DEPLETING THEM BY HALF OVER LAST 4 YEARS

The document pointed to nuclear energy production and clean energy capacity as two main components the climate delegation would focus on pertaining to national security. 

TRUMP TO INSTALL ‘ENERGY CZAR’ TO DISMANTLE BIDEN CLIMATE RULES: REPORT

Meanwhile, in September, the Biden administration released a “U.S. Framework for Climate Resilience and Security,” which posited that the U.S. national security community “has long understood” the threat that climate change poses to “existing security threats and vulnerabilities.”

The framework cited increased flooding and severe storms impacting military bases, extreme heat that “costs lives, reduces productivity and damages critical infrastructure,” decreased food security as the result of droughts and air pollution. It also pointed to the need for the military to respond to increased disasters caused by climate change, which the framework said works to drain its resources.

“The devastating impacts of the climate crisis increasingly are themselves the new direct threats from which we must protect our communities,” the framework stated. It was signed by John Podesta, senior advisor to the president for International Climate Policy, and Jake Sullivan, assistant to the president for National Security Affairs.

During President Biden’s first few days in office, he signed a series of executive orders that made “climate central to foreign policy planning, to diplomacy and to national security preparedness,” according to John Kerry, Biden’s former climate envoy. Biden was the first president in U.S. history to direct U.S. intelligence agencies to study the national security risks that climate change poses.

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., was knocked out of the Senate leader race after the first secret ballot on Wednesday morning, during which none of the three candidates received a majority of the votes.

Sources told Fox News that Scott received the least amount of votes during the first ballot. 

The senators advanced to a second secret ballot between only Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas.

Thune received the most votes on the first ballot with 23, but fell short of a majority, needing four more. Cornyn posted 15 votes, despite having only one public endorsement beforehand. Scott received 13 votes in the ballot before being knocked out of the race.

A candidate must receive 27 votes, a majority of the 53-member conference, in order to win.

Senate Minority Whip John Thune will be the new Republican Senate leader and the majority leader of the upper chamber in the new Congress. 

In January, he will succeed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who is the longest-serving party leader in Senate history. 

Sources told Fox News Digital that no candidate reached a majority on the first secret ballot. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., received the least amount of votes and was knocked out of the race. The second secret ballot was between only Thune and Cornyn. 

The senator received at least 27 votes from the 53-member conference during a secret ballot in the old Senate chamber on Wednesday morning. 

REPUBLICANS TO HUDDLE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS TO ELECT MCCONNELL’S SUCCESSOR WEDNESDAY

Each of the candidates made a final pitch to their fellow Republican senators late Tuesday night during a forum held by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah. 

Scott walked out of the meeting with two new public endorsements from both Lee and Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn. A source familiar told Fox News Digital that Blackburn had asked multiple questions during the discussion, including “how they would give conservatives a more meaningful voice in the Senate and for specific details as to how they would immediately implement President Trump’s mass deportation operation.”

RICK SCOTT GAINS NEW SENATE ENDORSEMENTS OUT OF CANDIDATE FORUM ON EVE OF LEADER ELECTION

Despite this, one source with knowledge told Fox News Digital that Scott’s pitch didn’t convince everyone. “Scott’s remarks didn’t do much to impress or sway members,” they said. “He focused more on his time as a businessman instead of priorities for the Senate.”

JOHN THUNE SNAGS 2 MORE ENDORSEMENTS IN COMPETITIVE GOP LEADER RACE TO SUCCEED MCCONNELL

Prior to the elections, Thune had received public endorsements from Sens. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., Mike Rounds, R-S.D., Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., John Hoeven, R-N.D., and a source confirmed to Fox News Digital that National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chairman Steve Daines, R-Mont., was privately encouraging other senators to support Thune. 

Scott had the most public support, with Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Ron Johnson, R-Wis., Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., Rand Paul, R-Ky., Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., also backing him. 

DEM REP RUBEN GALLEGO BEATS KARI LAKE IN BATTLE FOR ARIZONA SENATE SEAT

Cornyn had only received one public endorsement from Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo.

The majority of GOP senators did not disclose ahead of time who they were casting their ballots for.

Rubio and Hagerty gave the two nominating speeches for Scott, while Daines and Rounds did so for Thune. It’s unclear who gave nominating speeches for Cornyn. 

The new leader will assume the role in January. 

President-elect Donald Trump returned to the White House for the first time since being elected 47th President of the United States and since leaving his first term in 2021, thanking President Biden for the “smooth transition.” 

Biden, just after the election was called for Trump, invited his predecessor and now successor to the White House for a sit-down meeting in the Oval Office on Wednesday to begin the transition process. 

BIDEN-TRUMP WHITE HOUSE MEETING REVIVES PRESIDENTIAL TRADITION SKIPPED 4 YEARS AGO

“Donald, congratulations,” Biden said Wednesday upon Trump’s arrival. “Looking forward to having, like we said, a smooth transition… We can make sure you’re accommodated with what you need, and we’re going to get a chance to talk on that today.” 

Trump replied, “Good.” 

“Welcome,” Biden said. “Welcome back.” 

Trump thanked the president “very much.” 

PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP TO MEET BIDEN IN OVAL OFFICE WEDNESDAY

“And politics is tough, and it’s, in many cases, not a very nice world, but it is a nice world today, and I appreciate it very much,” Trump said. “And a transition that is so smooth — it’ll be as smooth as it can get.” 

Trump added, “And I very much appreciate that, Joe.” 

The Biden administration said it will work with the Trump transition team to ensure a smooth transition of power before Trump is sworn in as the 47th president on Jan. 20, 2025.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. 

President-elect Trump threw his full support behind Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to lead the House again during a closed-door meeting with GOP lawmakers on Wednesday.

Trump told current and incoming members that he backed Johnson “100%” hours before Republicans are set to elect their leaders for the 119th Congress, sources said. Johnson was not facing any significant challenges, but a group of conservative members are threatening to slow the process down by demanding a recorded vote rather than unanimous consent for the Speaker.

One member of the hardline-right House Freedom Caucus told Fox News Digital that Trump’s strong support for Johnson will likely negate any significant opposition the Louisiana Republican was facing.

Trump told Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., and Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., to “stick together” in the next Congressional term, two sources said.

Sources said Trump also promised to “carry out the largest deportation operation in history,” sources said, which earned cheers from House Republicans.

He also gave shoutouts to Elon Musk, who was in the room with him, as well as his incoming Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and House GOP Confermce Chair Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., who he tapped to be his new UN ambassador, sources said. 

Trump also predicted the GOP could win liberal states like California and New York in the next election — and mused about running a fourth time. 

“I suspect I won’t be running again unless you do something else, unless you say he’s so good we’ve got to figure something out,” he joked to a gathering of House Republicans ahead of their closed-door leadership elections in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. 

“It’s nice to win. It’s always nice to win. A lot of good friends in this room. So, you know, we had, like, historic kind of numbers, especially for the president,” Trump said. “But the House did very well, and I think we’re responsible for helping you.”

REPUBLICANS 2 SEATS AWAY FROM HOUSE MAJORITY, GIVING TRUMP LEEWAY TO IMPLEMENT AGENDA

Trump’s appearance came as lawmakers returned to Washington for a lame duck session before the next term. Republicans are poised to keep their narrow majority in the House, and have won control of the Senate, granting them far greater ease next term at getting conservative legislation to the president’s desk.

Trump went on: “We won, which is great because Republicans aren’t supposed to be winning the majority.” 

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“We won it every way — all seven swing states by a lot … New Jersey is right, just a few points. It’s got them very worried because they said, well, next time if we go up even a fraction of what we went up, you’re going to win New York, you’re going to win new Jersey, you’re going to win places that weren’t winnable. California too.” 

Top Democratic Party officials are concerned that the Harris-Walz campaign crossed the finish line with tens of millions of dollars in debt that could now be the party’s problem.

Party officials are now scrutinizing how the campaign spent its funds, having raised over $1 billion before Election Day. FEC filings already show shocking payments to celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and tens of millions in event spending and social media influence.

“How do you raise a historic amount of money and not win a single swing state?” one Harris aide told Axios. “The honest answer is: I don’t know. It seems we lost the national narrative, and that’s what we need to diagnose.”

Reports say the Harris campaign expected a delayed result on Election Day, and officials were planning to continue fundraising as votes were counted in the following days.

HARRIS CAMPAIGN REPORTEDLY SPENT 6 FIGURES ON ‘CALL HER DADDY’ PODCAST WITH FEWER THAN 1 MILLION YOUTUBE VIEWS

That reality never materialized, however, as it quickly became apparent that President-elect Trump ran away with the victory.

FEC filings show the Harris campaign made two $500,000 payments to Oprah Winfrey’s production company, Harpo, on Oct. 15, a month after Winfrey appeared with Harris at a town hall event and weeks before Oprah was on stage with Harris at a Philadelphia rally before Election Day.

HARRIS CAMPAIGN AND ALLIES SPENT MORE THAN $1.4B ON POLITICAL ADS IN LOSING RACE AGAINST TRUMP

While Winfrey herself denied accepting any payment, Harpo claimed the payments were meant to cover production costs for the surrounding event.

The campaign also gave $4 million to Village Marketing Agency, a company that connects clients with social media influencers.

The long list of celebrities that joined Harris on the campaign trail included Beyoncé, Bon Jovi, Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez and Bruce Springsteen.

The Washington Examiner also reported that the Harris campaign spent over $12 million on digital media consultants and “spent six figures on building a set for Harris’s appearance on the popular Call Her Daddy podcast with host Alex Cooper.”

The campaign spent at least $15 million on “event production,” FEC records show, with many payments lining up with high profile events and concerts with celebrity attendees or performers.

“The truth is this is just an epic disaster, this is a $1 billion disaster,” Lindy Li, Harris surrogate and DNC National Finance Committee member, told “Fox & Friends Weekend” on Saturday.

Fox News’ Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, announced his endorsement of Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., on Wednesday morning ahead of the 9:30 a.m. leadership elections.

“This morning, I’ll be voting for Rick Scott for GOP Leader, as I did two years ago. In 2022, I helped lead the charge for Rick against McConnell & I’m proud to stand with him again.

“For 12 yrs, I’ve been unequivocal that we need to change GOP Leadership—and now we finally will,” he wrote on X.

The last minute endorsement comes as a blow to Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who is from Cruz’s home state and also running for leader.

REPUBLICANS TO HUDDLE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS TO ELECT MCCONNELL’S SUCCESSOR WEDNESDAY

Cornyn’s office did not provide comment to Fox News Digital in time for publication.

On Tuesday night, after a leader candidate forum led by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, Cruz told reporters, “We had a robust and very substantive conversation.”

However, he would not say whether he was decided on his vote or if he was planning to support Cornyn.

REPUBLICANS 2 SEATS AWAY FROM HOUSE MAJORITY, GIVING TRUMP LEEWAY TO IMPLEMENT AGENDA

Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., is also running for leader, alongside Cornyn and Scott.

Both Thune and Scott were endorsed by their home state counterparts, Sens. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., respectively.

Scott is also publicly endorsed by Sens. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., Mike Lee, R-Utah, Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala.

Thune has the support of Rounds, Sens. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., John Hoeven, R-N.D., and Steve Daines, R-Mont.

Cornyn has been publicly backed by Sen. Josh Hawley.

With three candidates vying for a 27-vote majority in the 53 member conference, it’s possible that the secret ballot election could advance to a second ballot.

If one of the candidates is knocked out on the first ballot, it is very likely that some candidates, even those who have endorsed others, will choose to back a different candidate.

FIRST ON FOX: Former first lady Melania Trump said she questions whether current first lady Jill Biden’s “concern was genuine” following the first assassination attempt against President-elect Donald Trump in July, due to her rhetoric about her husband in the days leading up to the incident. 

Trump, in an interview with French publication “Paris Match” last month, said that Biden “took the initiative to contact me directly” after “someone tried to murder my husband in Pennsylvania” during his rally on July 13.

“I do question, however, whether Jill’s concern was genuine as a few days prior she referred to my husband as ‘evil’ and a ‘liar,’” Trump said. “It was obvious that the onslaught of rhetoric from Democrat leaders and the mainstream media was so deeply embedded in our nation’s consciousness it prompted an attempt to assassinate Donald.” 

Trump’s interview was conducted before President-elect Trump won the 2024 presidential election. 

TRUMP BLAMES BIDEN-HARRIS ‘RHETORIC’ FOR LATEST ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT, SAYS HE WILL ‘SAVE THE COUNTRY’

President-elect Trump is in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday for meetings with House Republicans on Capitol Hill, and he will return to the White House for the first time since leaving in 2021 Wednesday for a meeting with President Biden. 

Mrs. Trump, however, will not attend the meeting at the White House. 

“Her husband’s return to the Oval Office to commence the transition process is encouraging, and she wishes him great success,” her spokesperson said. 

Meanwhile, in the interview, Trump said that while she was “relieved to learn my husband was safe, it was evident that the forces behind this wicked behavior won’t come to an end.” 

“Simply put, they want Donald out.  They won’t stop. Has the concept of ‘respect’ become antiquated?  Can opposing sides prioritize decency, come together, and coexist?” she questioned. “Doubtful, as the Democrat political engine peddles harsh words, vile names, and labels our nation’s 45th President ‘a threat to democracy.’” 

She added, “People today are so desensitized they actually joke about killing a former U.S. President.” 

Mrs. Trump said that “it is undeniable that this type of speech created a toxic political environment.” 

BIDEN-TRUMP WHITE HOUSE MEETING REVIVES PRESIDENTIAL TRADITION SKIPPED 4 YEARS AGO

“This relentless vilification deepened the political divide in America, and now compromises those individuals who dare to stand-up for their own beliefs,” she said. “We are dangerously close to the edge of a different type of societal change.  It is time to be introspective, rewire ourselves, and discover the root cause of this egoism.  It is incumbent upon every American to begin posing these questions in order to ensure the survival of our nation. We now live in a post-respect world.” 

She added, “I guess nothing in politics is sacred anymore.” 

President-elect Trump, after the second assassination attempt against him in September, in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, also blamed Democrats’ rhetoric for the violence. 

“Their rhetoric is causing me to be shot at, when I am the one who is going to save the country, and they are the ones that are destroying the country — both from the inside and out,” Trump said in September.

An estimated 4,000 additional police officers are expected to be on hand in Washington, D.C., in January for the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, the city’s police chief says. 

Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith says her agency has been “in the planning process for the inauguration since the mid-summer.” 

“We have reached out to several police agencies across the United States of America and the majority of them have been very, very intentional about supporting us during the inauguration,” Smith said Tuesday. “We hope we can get to 4,000 police officers to assist us in this process. We are close to that number. 

“We do have other agencies who are continuing to reach out to us. And as they reach out, we will accept their request to provide mutual aid support for the District of Columbia during the inauguration process,” Smith added. 

SECRET SERVICE TO RAMP UP SECURITY ON JAN. 6, 2025, TO AVOID ANOTHER RIOT AT THE CAPITOL 

The police chief also said her department has been in touch with local partners such as DC Fire and EMS and the Office of Unified Communications on a “regular basis.” 

“With our federal partners, we have been meeting with them on a bi-weekly basis. And sometimes on a weekly basis to determine what intelligence information that may arise, not just in D.C. but across the U.S.,” Smith said. “And we will continue with those efforts as we progress into the certification of the election as well as the inauguration.” 

SPECIAL COUNSEL JACK SMITH PLANS TO RESIGN, FILE REPORT BEFORE TRUMP CAN FIRE HIM: REPORT 

The certification of the election results is set for Jan. 6, 2025, while the inauguration will happen two weeks later on Jan. 20. 

The U.S. Secret Service previously announced in September that the “2025 Counting and Certification of Electoral Votes in Washington, DC on Jan. 6, 2025, has been designated a National Special Security Event by the Secretary of Homeland Security.” 

“National Special Security Events are events of the highest national significance,” Eric Ranaghan, the Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Dignitary Protective Division, said at the time. “The U.S. Secret Service, in collaboration with our federal, state, and local partners are committed to developing and implementing a comprehensive and integrated security plan to ensure the safety and security of this event and its participants.”