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A former top official in the first Trump administration says there will be an “entire mindset change” in how the southern border is handled compared to the Biden administration, while calling President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) a “fantastic pick.”

“What you can probably expect, although I don’t speak for the president, is just an entire mindset change along that border,” former acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf told Fox News Digital. 

“Holding people accountable, making sure that we restart border wall construction, and you put things in place that stop some of the abuse that we see –some of the asylum shopping, the forum shopping — the ability to quickly return individuals and to really get serious about that to show people that, look, we’re serious, the president’s serious about stopping what has been the worst border crisis…that we’ve had over the last four years, that this country has ever seen,” he said. 

“So basically, almost doing everything completely different.”

TRUMP EXPECTED TO CHOOSE SOUTH DAKOTA GOV. KRISTI NOEM FOR HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY, SOURCE SAYS 

In a follow-up statement to Fox News Digital regarding the report that Noem would be Trump’s pick to lead the DHS, Wolf praised the selection, noting her past moves as governor to send the National Guard to the southern border.

“Governor Noem is a fantastic pick,” he said. “She has been a successful governor and has been forward-leaning and helping to support the Border security mission with her National Guard. She also has extensive experience working with FEMA on natural disasters,” he said. “I’m certain she will succeed.”

Trump will enter office on the back of a historic migrant crisis under the Biden administration, with numbers only decreasing since June. Trump campaigned primarily on tackling illegal immigration and has said he wants to launch a historic mass deportation campaign.

TRUMP’S ‘BORDER CZAR’ WARNS DEM GOVS REJECTING TRUMP DEPORTATION PLAN: ‘GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY’

He is likely to bring back policies from his first term, some of which Wolf implemented, including border wall construction, the Remain-in-Mexico policy and Asylum Cooperative Agreements with Northern Triangle countries.

This week, he appointed former acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Thomas Homan to the role of “border czar” to oversee deportations and border security.

Wolf, now at the America First Policy Institute, said that there is no one single policy solution, since the border now involves many different populations. However, he did note the importance of going after the cartels.

“I think you also need to target the cartels. You need to go after the source. They’re the ones that trafficked these human beings across the border. They’re also the ones that are smuggling the narcotics across the border. So you can deal with the problem once it reaches our border, or you can try to address it before that. And so I think, and I’ve heard President Trump talk very specifically about getting serious about the cartels and I think that’s a prudent approach.”

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF THE BORDER SECURITY CRISIS

He also said that resources will be an issue, and that Congress can help in that regard. He pointed to the House GOP border bill, HR 2, which passed the House in 2023 but has failed to gain traction in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

“I think there’s a lot that can be done using presidential authority and using DHS authority, Department of Justice authority and the like,” he emphasized. “I think if Congress wants to get involved, obviously a good start is H.R. 2.”

He noted that there will need to be more funding for more detention beds, border officers and agreements with state and local officials — meaning there will be a price tag.

“But I think that’s okay, because what we’ve seen over the last four years is an immense amount of money, billions and billions of dollars expended to facilitate more and more migrants coming into the country illegally,” he said. “And I think if we could turn that money around and repurpose it to actually enforce the law, to actually remove individuals that shouldn’t be here in the United States. I think that’s what the American people want to see.“

Vice President Kamala Harris’ failed presidential campaign spent more than $1 billion in three months, highlighted by several expenditures that have drawn intense criticism, including spending on celebrity influencers, radical activist groups and private jets.

FEC filings show the Harris campaign made two $500,000 payments to Oprah Winfrey’s production company, first reported by the Washington Examiner, 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.

Conservatives on social media widely criticized the move, accusing Harris of buying the famous endorsement that ultimately did not yield a victory.

“Unconscionable,” GOP Rep. Greg Murphy posted on X. “Oprah, a billionaire, sells her soul for a measly $1M.”

5 MISTAKES THAT DOOMED KAMALA HARRIS’ CAMPAIGN AGAINST TRUMP

“Wolf of Wall Street” Jordan Belfort told Fox News he was “shocked” when he heard about the campaign contribution and likened the campaign’s actions to “money laundering.”

Oprah pushed back on the criticism when confronted by TMZ, saying she was “paid nothing.”

A Harpo spokesperson acknowledged that Harpo Productions took money from the campaign but claimed it was for “production costs” and said, “Oprah Winfrey was at no point during the campaign paid a personal fee, nor did she receive a fee from Harpo.”

Giving money to prominent celebrities was a theme of the Harris campaign, which gave almost $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.

The controversial spending habits of the campaign also included contributions to radical activist groups.

The Harris campaign cut multiple six-figure checks in September for left-leaning groups that have been vocal about defunding the police, reparations and are tied to radical activists who have supported notorious antisemite Louis Farrakhan, Fox News Digital previously reported.

The Black Voters Matter Fund, which received $150,000 from the Harris campaign on Sept. 19, has repeatedly called for defunding the police and has been vocal about pushing for reparations.

The Black Church PAC, which also received $150,000 from the Harris campaign in September, has multiple controversial religious leaders on its board and recent social media posts show it is partnering with a defund the police group to help with “Get out the vote” efforts in Georgia, Pennsylvania and North Carolina.

Despite running a campaign warning of the effects of climate change, which she has previously called an “existential threat”, Harris gave over $4 million to Advanced Aviation to fly on private jets, FEC filings show.

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The campaign, according to FEC filings, also spent north of $56 million on payroll and payroll taxes in just three months.

Filings also show the campaign gave in excess of $100 million to various consulting and marketing firms, including Gambit Strategies LLC, DuPont Circle Strategies LLC, and Bully Pulpit Interactive LLC. 

The Harris-Walz campaign is reportedly $20 million in debt, having raised more than $1 billion and had $118 million in the bank as of Oct. 16, according to Politico reporter Christopher Cadelago. 

News of the campaign debt sparked a social media troll from President-elect Donald Trump, who suggested he could cover the $20 million.

GOP CONGRESSMAN-ELECT REVEALS AMBITIOUS 100-DAY PLAN FOR TRUMP ADMIN: ‘NOT GOING TO GET FOOLED AGAIN’

“I am very surprised that the Democrats, who fought a hard and valiant fight in the 2020 (sic) Presidential Election, raising a record amount of money, didn’t have lots of $’s left over,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth.

“Now they are being squeezed by vendors and others. Whatever we can do to help them during this difficult period, I would strongly recommend we, as a Party and for the sake of desperately needed UNITY, do,” Trump added.

“We have a lot of money left over in that our biggest asset in the campaign was ‘Earned Media,’ and that doesn’t cost very much. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

The Harris campaign did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan contributed to this report. 

President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of two House Republicans to serve in his administration could pose issues if the GOP’s majority in the chamber ends up critically thin.

Trump has selected House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., as his ambassador to the United Nations, while a source told Fox News Digital that he picked Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., to be his National Security Adviser.

Both represent Republican stronghold districts that have little chance of falling into Democratic hands in special elections.

SHUTDOWN STANDOFF LOOMS IN CONGRESS’ FINAL WEEKS BEFORE TRUMP’S RETURN TO WHITE HOUSE

However, those special elections could take place weeks or months after the new term begins in January 2025, which could slow down Trump’s plans for an ambitious first 100-day agenda.

“That’s an agenda we’ve been working on with President Trump for months now. We didn’t wait until the day after the election to start planning this, and this shows the relentless focus of Donald Trump,” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., said during a press conference on Tuesday.

“I know he’s already pulled a few really talented people out of the House – hopefully no more for a little while until special elections come up, but it shows you the talent that we have and the ability we have.”

HOUSE LEADERS MOVE QUICKLY TO CONSOLIDATE POWER IN SHOW OF CONFIDENCE FOR REPUBLICAN MAJORITY

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., similarly said he did not believe Trump would select any more House members for his administration and said he and Trump broached the topic in discussions.

“President Trump fully understands and appreciates the math here, and it’s just a numbers game. You know, we believe we’re going to have a larger majority than we had last time. It’s too early to handicap it, but we are optimistic about that,” Johnson said.

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“But every single vote will count, because if someone gets ill or has a car accident or a late flight on their plane, then it affects the votes on the floor. So, I think he and administration are well attuned to that. I don’t expect that we will have more members leaving, but I’ll leave that up to him.”

House Republicans are on track to win a single-digit majority in the chamber.

It is not much different than it was during the 118th Congress, but GOP leaders will likely face more pressure to keep members in line when working to enact Trump’s will.

National security minds in Washington, D.C., are awaiting President-elect Donald Trump’s decision for defense secretary.

Trump’s pick of Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., as his national security adviser and his expected pick of Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., for secretary of state, set a tone for his foreign policy that is expected to be hawkish on China and Iran. 

Whoever Trump picks for defense secretary will oversee major changes within the Pentagon, both a reorienting of troop posture abroad and an across-the-board stripping of DEI provisions they believe caused the Pentagon to go “woke” under President Biden. 

A litany of names has been tossed around for who could lead the government’s largest agency, with one running theme: while his pick needs to pass a Senate confirmation, Trump is expected to appoint a loyalist who will not undermine him. 

During his first term, five men held the job as Pentagon chief only to resign, be fired or serve briefly as a stopgap.

“I don’t think [Trump] really knows yet who he wants for defense secretary,” one source familiar with the transition process said. “I don’t think he’s decided.”

One possibility is Robert Wilkie, Trump’s former Veterans’ Affairs secretary. Prior to his VA confirmation in 2018, he served as undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness under Trump and served in both the Navy and Air Force Reserve. Wilkie has been leading the Trump transition team with Pentagon staffing. 

GOP REP. MIKE WALTZ TAPPED TO BE TRUMP’S NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER

Wilkie is a fellow at the Trump-aligned America First Policy Institute and a military analyst for Newsmax. 

Another name is Robert O’Brien, Trump’s former national security adviser who has also been involved with the transition team. O’Brien told Fox News Digital that “of course” he would return to a Trump administration. 

O’Brien has been outspoken about the need to pivot U.S. defenses to China. He said the way to force Russia to the negotiating table with Ukraine was through steeper sanctions – and bringing Ukraine into NATO “risks World War III.” 

Richard Grenell, Trump’s former acting director of national intelligence and German ambassador, was also expected to land a national security role in this administration. With the state and national security adviser roles filled, he, too, could land at the Department of Defense. 

Throughout the campaign, Grenell advised Trump on foreign policy and political issues, and led outreach to Arab Americans in Michigan. He appeared with Trump in September when he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Grenell was a pro-Trump antagonist to Europe during his time in Germany, with the former president joking about former German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s happiness when Grenell was moved to the national security role. 

US REP. MIKE ROGERS BEING CONSIDERED FOR SECRETARY OF DEFENSE UNDER TRUMP

Sen. Joni Ernst, the defense-minded Iowa Republican and current GOP conference chair, has also been floated as a possibility, a source confirmed to Fox News Digital, but she remains “laser-focused” on her GOP conference chair race. She also served in the Army Reserve and Iowa Army National Guard. 

If picked, she would be the first female defense secretary. 

Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., head of the House Armed Services Committee, was also under consideration and has been contacted by the transition team, a source familiar confirmed. 

However, two sources said that Trump is likely to pull from the private sector for this role. Picking from Congress would whittle away narrow GOP majorities in those chambers, at least until seats were filled. 

Rogers is also a staunch supporter of aiding Ukraine – a position that might put him at odds with Trump. 

Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, who held high-level national security posts during Trump’s first term, has also been named as a possibility. 

“The president is going to make the call on who is in his administration,” Kellogg recently told Fox News Radio’s Guy Benson, while suggesting he would say yes if the president called. “It’s going to be a very loyal team.” 

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., had been a lead contender for an administration role, likely defense secretary or CIA head, but pulled his name from the running, a source confirmed. He is running for Republican Conference chair and is likely to take over Rubio’s position as head of the Intelligence Committee.

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had been floated, but on Saturday, Trump posted on Truth Social that Pompeo would not be joining this administration – and neither would former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley. 

Fox News’ Liz Elkind contributed to this report. 

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., fielded dozens of answers after asking her followers why they supported both her and President-elect Donald Trump in last week’s election.

“I voted Trump, but I like you and Bernie. I don’t trust either party’s establishment politicians,” one of Ocasio-Cortez’s Instagram followers told the New York lawmaker Monday during a livestream.

The comment came in response to Ocasio-Cortez asking followers “who supported both Trump and me” or “Trump/Democrat” to explain their decision-making.

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Comments were quick to flow in, with Ocasio-Cortez attempting to appear non-judgemental while assuring followers she was genuinely curious about their rationale.

“I feel that you both are outsiders compared to the rest of DC, and less establishment,” one comment said.

“You signified change. Trump signified change. I’ve said lately, Trump sounds more like you,” added another.

The comments also come as Trump performed significantly better in the Bronx and Queens, which make up much of Ocasio-Cortez’s district, in 2024. Trump lost Queens by nearly 24 points and the Bronx by around 45 points last week, a drastic improvement from his losses of 45 and 67 points in the two boroughs, respectively, in 2020.

The result was a curious one for Ocasio-Cortez, who noted that many people who sent her to a nearly 38-point victory in the district must have also voted for the former president.

The progressive lawmaker explained she was seeking to “understand and adapt” to the reality, noting the livestream session was a way to “dig in” to what her supporters were feeling.

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 “Trump is going to get us the money and lets men have a voice. You’re brilliant and have amazing passion,” one follower told her.

“It’s real simple… Trump and you care for the working class,” another said.

“I feel like Trump and you are both real,” added another.

“You are focused on the real issues people care about. Similar to Trump populism in some ways,” one follower reasoned.

Another theme of the livestream session was the Biden administration’s handling of the conflict in Gaza, with many of the lawmaker’s followers arguing that Trump was better equipped to bring an end to the situation.

“I voted for Trump and you, not genocide Harris. Dems need Bernie,” one commenter said.

“I know people that did this and it was bc of Gaza,” added another.

“Because of Gaza,” one follower plainly stated.

“I voted Trump and dems because he reached out to Muslims,” noted one comment.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., has called Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who President-elect Donald Trump is expected to tap to serve as secretary of state, a “strong choice” for the cabinet-level role.

“Unsurprisingly, the other team’s pick will have political differences than my own,” Fetterman wrote in a post on X. “That being said, my colleague @SenMarcoRubio is a strong choice and I look forward to voting for his confirmation.”

If Rubio does take on the job next year, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will be able to appoint a temporary replacement to fill the vacant U.S. Senate seat until a special election is held for the seat.

TRUMP EXPECTED TO NAME SEN. MARCO RUBIO AS SECRETARY OF STATE

Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., has called Rubio “an outstanding choice.”

“Senator Rubio has a proven record of promoting freedom, defending American interests on the global stage, and standing firm against threats from the CCP. His leadership will be invaluable in advancing our nation’s values and priorities abroad,” Steube said in a tweet.

Rep. Carlos Giménez, R-Fla., said in a statement that, “President Trump has made a truly historic and brilliant choice in selecting Senator Marco Rubio as our nation’s Secretary of State.”

AOC FIRES BACK AT FETTERMAN, ACCUSES HIM OF ‘BLEAK DUNK ATTEMPT’

Rubio has announced that he is supporting fellow Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott for the role of Senate Republican Leader. 

Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and John Thune, R-S.D. are also vying for the role. 

Senate Republicans are slated to hold the vote on Wednesday. 

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Rubio has served in the Senate since 2011.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said there are “preliminary plans” for President-elect Donald Trump to visit Capitol Hill on Wednesday.

The Louisiana Republican broke the news during a Tuesday morning press conference in response to Fox News Digital’s question about whether he and Trump had discussed the issue of government funding.

“I didn’t intend to break this as news this morning,” Johnson said when asked by another reporter to elaborate. “But since I said it… President Trump is going to be meeting with President Biden at the White House. And so, it was suggested – in fact, that he, I think he said it first before I did – but, that he wanted to come and visit with House Republicans.”

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He said House leaders were “working out the details” of his visit, which would take place before his meeting with Biden.

“That would be a great meeting and moment for all of us,” Johnson said.

Johnson said he would also be at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, over the weekend to discuss government funding and other federal priorities.

SHUTDOWN STANDOFF LOOMS IN CONGRESS’ FINAL WEEKS BEFORE TRUMP’S RETURN TO WHITE HOUSE

The speaker has forged a close working relationship with Trump since winning the gavel in late October 2023, after the historic ouster of his predecessor.

Even before Trump won the election, Johnson would keep the then-former president abreast of his policy and legislative decisions for the House before making them public.

Wednesday will be Trump’s first day back in the nation’s capital since he won the 2024 election.

HOUSE LEADERS MOVE QUICKLY TO CONSOLIDATE POWER IN SHOW OF CONFIDENCE FOR REPUBLICAN MAJORITY

The Tuesday morning press conference was held to celebrate Republican victories in the White House and Senate, and tout the GOP’s confidence in keeping the House majority.

Several close races are yet to be decided, but enough are trending Republicans’ way that leaders have already assumed they will hold the levers of power in Washington.

Disgraced former Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., responded to rumors regarding his potential return to the public scene, years after he resigned from Congress amid the first of several sexting scandals.

The one-time nom de guerre “Carlos Danger” last served on New York City Council in the 1990s representing Sheepshead Bay and Brighton Beach. Responding to calls from reporters and listeners to his 77WABC radio program, Weiner said Monday he loves his hometown very much, as talk of a new bid in Manhattan surfaced.

He pointed to fellow 77WABC host and Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa, who mounted an unsuccessful Republican bid against Eric Adams in 2021, suggesting he too is not done with public service.

“The way I always unpack these things is ‘what does it mean for me and my neighbors?’ The city has always been the way that I have looked at service. And, you know, we are Democrats. We stand up… for each other… we don’t like people being victimized by bullies,” Weiner said. 

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Weiner said New York City should always be the “shining laboratory” of Democratic Party ideals and said that “for years we had Republicans running this town.”

From 1994 to 2002, Republican Rudy Giuliani served as mayor. He was succeeded by Democrat-turned-Republican-turned-Independent Michael Bloomberg until 2013. The City Council, however, has historically been a supermajority of Democrats.

“I would always say, if we can’t come up with solutions for this city, and we can’t show that they can work, we don’t deserve to win… I love my city. This is a city that is proudly governed by Democrats.”

Weiner said that, in contrast, there are issues with New York that seem “intractable” – citing the years-to-decades it takes to build infrastructure, sky-high taxation and the fact that when he rides the bus, “I’d be surprised if half the people paid.”

Weiner blamed part of the homeless and migrant problem on a 1979 class action suit brought against then-Gov. Hugh L. Carey and Mayor Ed Koch that resulted in the “Callahan Decree” – which instituted a right-to-shelter for homeless men.

However, Weiner continued through a litany of things he would like to see improved about the city, such as being able to walk into a Duane Reade with his son and not find most of the store’s goods locked up.

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“And as someone who has struggled with addiction, someone who lost his brother, I mean, I don’t know if we are running headlong into these things because they seem like the right thing to do without thinking.”

Weiner said people in his neighborhood have approached him about a return as well.

He noted Councilwoman Carlina Rivera of Kips Bay is term-limited, which would place Weiner’s home in an open district.

“People said: ‘Anthony, why don’t you run?'”

He addressed the elephant in the room, remarking that there are “all kinds of reasons not to – least of which are the things in my past and the things about my addiction.”

Weiner was once seen as then-Rep. Chuck Schumer’s protégé and had a close relationship with his fellow Brooklynite. When Schumer gave up his House seat and successfully won the Senate seat of retiring Republican Al D’Amato, Weiner replaced him.

However, Weiner resigned from Congress in 2011 after admitting to sending women explicit photos. 

After his resignation, Weiner continued sexting under the pseudonym “Carlos Danger.” The main recipient, Sydney Leathers, claimed the former lawmaker referred to himself as “an argumentative, perpetually horny middle-aged man.”

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A few years later, he was embroiled in another sexting scandal during which he separated from his wife, longtime Hillary Clinton confidante Huma Abedin.

After claims surfaced again, this time that Weiner had sexted a teenager in North Carolina, his laptop was seized. Investigators found emails pertinent to Clinton’s classified documents scandal that preceded her upset loss to President-elect Donald Trump.

Weiner later checked himself into rehab for sex addiction, and in 2017 was sentenced in his federal sexting case – which imploded his then-bid for mayor. He remains a registered sex offender.

Weiner remained upbeat in speaking out about his potential opportunity to help New York.

“We’re at a moment that we Democrats, seem like we come into knife fights carrying library books all the time,” he said. 

“I’m thinking about it. I’m wrestling with it. I’m trying to figure out. I don’t know. I mean, I love doing this job on the radio, but I want to be of service. I think everyone should think that way.”

“We’re Democrats, we solve problems.”

The City Council currently sits at a 45-6 Democratic majority, but Republicans doubled their ranks recently and now have at least one member from every borough except Manhattan.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has reportedly started practicing his golf game in anticipation of meeting President-elect Donald Trump.

Yoon started the practice after holding a brief phone call with Trump congratulating him on his victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. Days after the call, Yoon “got out his golf clubs for the first time in eight years and resumed his golf practice,” his office told NBC News.

The effort echoes former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s relationship with Trump. The pair played golf together at least five times during Trump’s first administration, and Abe famously gifted Trump with gold-plated clubs.

Trump’s campaign did not immediately respond when asked whether the president-elect hoped other world leaders would start hitting the range.

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Trump’s call with Yoon was one of several he received from world leaders congratulating him on his Election Day victory. So far, Trump is known to have spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as well as leaders from the Middle East and Asia.

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The Washington Post reported that Putin and Trump spoke just two days after Trum won re-election.

Trump reportedly took the call from Florida and advised Putin to not escalate the war in Ukraine. The president-elect also reminded Russia’s president about the amount of U.S. military in Europe, a person familiar with the call who spoke on anonymity told the publication.

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Additionally, the two men talked about peace being the goal in Europe, while Trump also expressed a desire for further talks on “the resolution of Ukraine’s war soon,” several sources told The Post.

Meanwhile, billionaire Elon Musk joined Trump on his call with Zelenskyy.

“I had an excellent call with President Trump and congratulated him on his historic landslide victory — his tremendous campaign made this result possible,” Zelenskyy posted on X.

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Details of Musk’s exact role were not disclosed according to reporting from Axios, though sources reported Musk expressed his intent to continue supporting Ukraine through his Starlink satellite network—a service critical to Ukraine’s wartime communications.

The Energy Department announced the end of replenishing the nation’s strategic oil reserves on Friday, which were depleted by nearly half under President Biden, and used the opportunity to praise the administration for the work it has done to maintain and replenish the stockpile.

However, as of Nov. 1, the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) inventory held just 387.2 million barrels of oil, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That is compared to 638.1 million barrels that were in the SPR inventory when Biden took over the presidency from former President Donald Trump. 

The major drop came from Biden’s decision to flood the U.S. oil market with millions of barrels from the SPR to keep oil costs down following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The decision to do so was frequently met with backlash from his critics who argued the move was “political” in order to keep gas prices down ahead of the election this month.

“The SPR for this administration was used as a piggy bank to lower oil prices,” said Trishia Curtis, economist at the American Energy Institute. 

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“This is smoke and mirrors to make it look OK,” added Phil Flynn, senior markets analyst at the Price Futures Group, according to Market Watch.

Despite the drastic drop in SPR during Biden’s tenure, Energy Department Secretary Jennifer Granholm lauded the Biden-Haris administration for “maintain[ing] the SPR as the world’s largest supply of emergency crude oil” and for “putting the economic and energy security of the American people first,” in a Friday press release from the Energy Department about the latest SPR purchase.

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“With the awarding of these contracts, DOE has fully utilized all funding allocated for crude oil purchases following the sale of 180 million barrels in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and secured 20 million more barrels at a good price for taxpayers,” Granholm concluded. 

However, for Energy and Environmental Legal Institute fellow and former Trump administration Environmental Protection Agency transition advisor Steve Milloy, the numbers do not add up.

“It’s deceptive,” Milloy told Fox News Digital. “They’ve only bought back one-third of what they let go. Now they’re trying to say that they actually bought back more, or they put back more, but what they’re counting is oil that’s already in there.”

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Meanwhile, energy expert Chris Barnard, the president of The American Conservation Coalition, posited that it was “contradictory” for the Biden administration to claim it has been focused on U.S. energy security.

“It feels quite contradictory for them to tout that they’re [replenishing the SPR], while at the same time saying that they want to end oil and gas,” Barnard said.

“It’s felt like a bit of whiplash between Biden’s comments on the campaign trail back in 2019 and 2020, where he even told some voters, ‘I want to end fossil fuels altogether.’ But then at the same time claiming credit for replenishing the SPR, at the same time canceling Keystone Pipeline, at the same time going and begging the Saudis to produce more oil and send it to America,” Barnard said. “Their energy idealism has run up against energy reality.”

On Biden’s way out of the White House, he has been imposing tighter environmental restrictions, including just this week, when Biden approved a new tax on methane emissions and implemented tighter restrictions on oil, solar and wind energy development across more than 6,500 square miles of federal land.

The Energy Department declined to comment for this story.