The White House News

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday that President Biden still believes that President-elect Trump is an “existential threat” to democracy.

But when confronted by a reporter about Biden’s relative silence on the “threat” he thinks Trump poses since the election, Jean-Pierre replied, “We are now in a different place.” 

“There was an election and the American people spoke. The will of the American people were very clear,” she told reporters at the daily White House press briefing.

Biden met with Trump at the White House last week and committed to a “smooth transition” as the 45th and soon to be 47th president prepares to return to office in January.

TRUMP THANKS BIDEN FOR ‘SMOOTH TRANSITION’ DURING WHITE HOUSE MEETING

Their cordial meeting stood in stark contrast to the heated rhetoric used before Election Day, when Biden and Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris each called Trump a “fascist” and repeatedly warned that American democracy would be in danger if he prevailed.

“Politics is tough and in many cases it’s not a very nice world, but it is a nice world today,” a smiling Trump said after Biden shook his hand and welcomed him back to the White House.

NEARLY 200 GROUPS URGE BIDEN TO RELEASE MIGRANTS, CLOSE DETENTION CENTERS BEFORE TRUMP ARRIVES

Jean-Pierre said Thursday that Biden’s shift in tone reflects an effort to “lead by example” to make sure the peaceful transfer of power takes place.

“He feels like he is obligated. What he said still stands, but we are now in a different place. We are – the American people spoke. They deserve a peaceful transfer of power.” 

TRUMP’S INCOMING WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF’S LOBBYING COMES UNDER SCRUTINY

She reiterated that Biden’s beliefs about Trump have “not changed.” 

Biden’s offer to Trump to visit the White House was an invitation he himself was never accorded.

Four years ago, in the wake of his election defeat at the hands of Biden, Trump refused to concede and tried unsuccessfully to overturn the results.

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Breaking with longstanding tradition, Trump didn’t invite Biden to the White House. And two weeks after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters aiming to upend congressional certification of Biden’s Electoral College victory, Trump left Washington ahead of the presidential inauguration of his successor, becoming the first sitting president in a century and a half to skip out on a successor’s inauguration.

The meeting was the first between Biden and Trump since they faced off in Atlanta on June 27 in their one and only debate, a contest most viewers determined Biden decidedly lost. He withdrew from the 2024 election and endorsed Harris a month later. 

Fox News Digital’s Brooke Singman and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.

Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump transition, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content.

Here’s what’s happening…

-Who will Trump pick next for attorney general after Gaetz’s withdrawal?

-Biden administration loosens immigration restrictions ahead of second Trump term

-Biden blamed for Laken Riley murder while Trump brings hope for slain cheerleader’s mom

Matt Gaetz, the former Florida representative and Trump nominee for Attorney General, announced Thursday that he is withdrawing as Trump’s pick for the top prosecutor, citing what he described as the “distraction” his nomination had caused due to a swirl of allegations about paying underage women for sex. 

“While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition,” Gaetz said.

“There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I’ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1.”

The news comes amid a swirl of allegations surrounding Gaetz, who for months had been under investigation by the House Ethics Committee until his resignation last Wednesday from the current congressional session…Read more

WARP SPEED CONFIRMATIONS: Democrats advance five more Biden judicial nominees…Read more

CANCELING DEBT: Biden administration informs Congress it will forgive $5B in economic loans to Ukraine…Read more

‘MAKE OR BREAK’: Heritage launching $1M campaign targeting senators who could ‘make or break’ Trump Cabinet confirmations…Read more

HELPING TRUMP: New Republican Governors Association chair says ‘focus’ is on helping Trump get ‘off to a strong start’…Read more

WHITE HOUSE FOR SALE?: Trump’s incoming White House chief of staff’s lobbying interest come under scrutiny…Read more

BIG FAMILIES: Trump administration staffed by parents with big families…Read more

INVESTIGATE THE WASTE: Comer to create DOGE subcommittee chaired by Marjorie Taylor Greene to work with Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy…Read more

‘UNCONSTITUTIONAL’: Ted Cruz urges White House to halt $1.25B in ‘digital equity’ funds…Read more

‘SHOCKING DEPARTURE’: FBI director, Homeland Security secretary refuse to publicly testify, Senate chairman says…Read more

SKIPPING OUT ON SENATE: Hawley says Mayorkas, Wray ‘absolutely’ skipped Senate hearing due to Laken Riley verdict, calls for subpoena…Read more

‘NO STANDING’: Fetterman says ‘F— that’ amid bipartisan backlash over arrest warrants targeting Israel’s Netanyahu, Gallant…Read more

‘EFFICIENT AND ACCOUNTABLE’: GOP-led DOGE bill aims to slash outflow of federal dollars…Read more

SENATE SHOWDOWN: GOP secures deal with Schumer to save coveted appellate judges for Trump…Read more

3 MORE TO GO: 3 uncalled House races to determine size of House GOP majority…Read more

‘PASSION IN MY HEART’: Democratic Pennsylvania election official apologizes for controversial comments as Senate recount begins…Read more

WHAT WENT WRONG?: Harris campaign officials explain what went wrong-  and what Trump did right…Read more

MANHUNT UNDERWAY: Connecticut manhunt underway after suspect allegedly kills mother, infant in drive-by shooting…Read more

READING THE AUTOPSY: Daniel Penny defense calls forensic pathologist to witness stand: ‘The chokehold did not cause the death’…Read more

SMIRKING SUSPECT: Florida mom accused of drowning 14-year-old daughter in bathtub, authorities say…Read more

DISMANTLING DEI: Conservative watchdog releases ‘toolkit’ to help parents file complaints with the Department of Education…Read more

NOT GUILTY PLEA: Father of Georgia high school shooting suspect pleads not guilty…Read more

WAR GAMES: Would the US win a war with China over Taiwan? US lawmakers briefed on the potential outcome…Read more

LAST CALL: Caravan of 1,500 migrants forms in Mexico…Read more

Get the latest updates on the Trump presidential transition, incoming Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.

FIRST ON FOX: Conservative watchdog group, America First Legal (AFL) launched a new initiative Thursday to help parents protect their children from what it describes as “woke leftist teachings in K-12 schools, colleges, and universities.”

“For the past four years, public schools have been indoctrinating children with radical racist, antisemitic, and transgender ideologies,” Ian Prior, AFL’s senior advisor said in a statement. “As these schools have blatantly violated civil rights law, the Biden Administration worked hand in glove to federalize the illegal practices. That ends in 2025, as the incoming administration has made clear that it will crack down on these woke schools that abuse their federal funds to implement insane ideologies that hurt children.” 

The newly unveiled “Parents’ Rights Toolkit” provides resources and guidance for families looking to challenge policies they believe are discriminatory or harmful, including those that involve race and gender issues, AFL said in a news release.

DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKER RANTS ABOUT ‘THE WHITE MAN’ DURING HEARING ON THE DISMANTLE DEI ACT

The toolkit offers template letters to help parents file complaints with the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, addressing potential violations of civil rights protections under Title IX, Title VI, and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA). 

AFL, which was founded by Stephen Miller and other former Trump administration officials, intends for the toolkit to also serve as a roadmap for action for the incoming Trump administration.

JOHNSON BLASTS DEM ACCUSATIONS HE VOWED TO END OBAMACARE AS ‘DISHONEST’

“AFL’s toolkit was created to help parents speak up for civil rights,” AFL’s news release said. “Now is the time for them to do — these claims will provide the incoming Trump administration with a critical roadmap for ending woke indoctrination and discrimination in our schools and colleges.”

The toolkit comes amid a conservative wave of pushback against DEI policies. At a House Oversight Committee hearing on Wednesday, the “Dismantle DEI Act” was under discussion, a session during which Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, expressed her frustration.

MIKE JOHNSON WINS REPUBLICAN SUPPORT TO BE HOUSE SPEAKER AGAIN AFTER TRUMP ENDORSEMENT

She concluded her remarks by claiming “companies with more diverse workforces are more likely to outperform their competitors.” 

“Diversity works, and until you can show me data that says otherwise, I think that we need to go back to being a country that listens to experts and gets out of our feelings and recognizes again that racism is real in this country, and until we stop pretending that it’s not, we will not solve the problems that we are consistently facing. And that will bring real unity that we seek when we’re looking for a more perfect union,” she said. 

Fox News Digital’s Alexander Hall contributed to this report. 

FIRST ON FOX: A Republican senator introduced a measure to do away with the Department of Education on Thursday after President-elect Donald Trump suggested doing so on the 2024 campaign trail.

Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., debuted the “Returning Education to Our States Act” in the Senate, which would abolish the Education Department and charge various other departments with certain responsibilities and programs that are currently administered by it. 

During his presidential campaign, Trump said, “One thing I’ll be doing very early in the administration is closing up the Department of Education in Washington, D.C., and sending all education and education work it needs back to the states.” 

SENATE SHOWDOWN: GOP SECURES DEAL WITH SCHUMER TO SAVE COVETED APPELLATE JUDGES FOR TRUMP

Some experts contested his ability to do this, noting he would need congressional approval. However, with an incoming Republican trifecta in Washington, D.C., and Rounds’ bill, he might have it. 

“The federal Department of Education has never educated a single student, and it’s long past time to end this bureaucratic Department that causes more harm than good,” Rounds said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. “We all know local control is best when it comes to education. Everyone raised in South Dakota can think of a teacher who played a big part in their educational journey. Local school boards and state Departments of Education know best what their students need, not unelected bureaucrats in Washington, D.C.

DEMOCRAT TAMMY BALDWIN DETAILS RECIPE FOR RUNNING IN A SWING STATE AFTER VICTORY IN TRUMP-WON WISCONSIN

“For years, I’ve worked toward removing the federal Department of Education. I’m pleased that President-elect Trump shares this vision, and I’m excited to work with him and Republican majorities in the Senate and House to make this a reality. This legislation is a roadmap to eliminating the federal Department of Education by practically rehoming these federal programs in the departments where they belong, which will be critical as we move into next year,” he continued. 

RFK JR’S ABORTION ‘ISSUE’: SENATE GOP PLANS TO SCRUTINIZE TRUMP HHS PICK’S POSITION

In the senator’s plan, a number of Native American education programs will be redirected to the Department of Interior, loan and grant programs would become the responsibility of the Department of Treasury, disability programs would be overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services, career programs would move to the Department of Labor and the State Department would become responsible for the Fulbright-Hays Program, which “supports research and training efforts overseas.” 

INCOMING SENATE DEM ELISSA SLOTKIN TORCHES IDENTITY POLITICS IN 2024 AUTOPSY: ‘GO THE WAY OF THE DODO’

The new bill comes after Trump revealed he plans to tap Linda McMahon, former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), to lead the Education Department earlier this week. 

“It is my great honor to announce that Linda McMahon, former Administrator of the Small Business Administration, will be the United States Secretary of Education,” he said in a statement on the selection. 

A state senator is demanding that Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr file an emergency motion to intervene and demand the death penalty against Laken Riley’s killer. 

District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez, for the Western Judicial District encompassing Athens, previously wrote in court documents that she would not pursue the death penalty, citing “collateral consequences to undocumented defendants.” 

Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old illegal immigrant who received taxpayer-funded flights, was found guilty Wednesday of stalking, raping and murdering Riley in February. The nursing student, out for an early morning run on the University of Georgia campus, fought her attacker for approximately 18 minutes but died from blunt force trauma. Ibarra bashed her skull with a rock after dragging her off a wooded trail, prosecutors said. 

“I am officially calling on Attorney General Chris Carr to file an emergency motion to intervene and demand the death penalty for the murderer of Laken Riley,” state Sen. Colton Moore, a Republican, wrote on X. “District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez let her radical political agenda stand in the way of justice. By refusing to seek the death penalty, she denied Laken’s family, friends, and community the full measure of justice they deserve.”

LAKEN RILEY TRIAL HIGHLIGHTS BIDEN-ERA IMMIGRATION CRISIS AS MOM OF SLAIN CHEERLEADER AWAITS JUSTICE

“Join me in calling on AG Chris Carr to demand the death penalty for Jose Ibarra,” he said. 

In response to an inquiry from Fox News Digital regarding Gonzalez’s reasoning, the DA’s office told Fox News Digital that the reference to collateral consequences for undocumented defendants is “DA Gonzalez’s stance on sentencing in general.”

“Life without parole is an appropriately serious sentence and is a decision supported by the family, as heard in the impact statements delivered by Laken Riley’s family and friends during yesterday’s sentencing,” a spokesperson for Gonzalez added. 

A spokesperson for Carr’s office claimed the state attorney general does not have jurisdiction and, therefore, cannot intervene, but Moore argued otherwise. 

“I can send you a copy of the Constitution of Georgia, section 3, paragraph 4. It clearly states that the attorney general has jurisdiction in any felony case,” Moore told Fox News Digital. “And the state, I mean the attorney general’s office, has intervened in cases before. You know, he is the chief law enforcement officer of our state. He should have known that the district attorney is one of the most liberal district attorneys in the country, that she wasn’t going to pursue the death penalty. Why even have capital punishment in our state?” 

“I mean clear evidence, it’s not like we’re killing an innocent person here,” Moore said. “I mean, his DNA was underneath Laken Riley’s fingernails. It was very clear he’s the perpetrator. He’s the guilty one. And we have capital punishment in our state for a reason. And I can’t imagine another crime that would suit capital punishment like his crime. He’s the chief law enforcement officer, it’s clearly stated in the constitution that he has jurisdiction.” 

Moore noted how Ibarra received taxpayer-funded flights and now taxpayers will foot the bill to house and feed him after Riley’s killer was sentenced to life without parole. 

“I’m very concerned, you know, about any student going to the University of Georgia when this area is a sanctuary city now. And, you know, these killers, these guys can come in here, and they don’t have to worry about capital punishment,” Moore told Fox News Digital. “Probably $2 million is what we’re going to have to pay as taxpayers to give him three meals and a cot for the rest of his life. You know, three hots and a cot.” 

LAKEN RILEY MURDER: JUDGE SENTENCES COLLEGE STUDENT KILLER AFTER FAMILY ADDRESSES ‘MONSTER’ IN COURT

As for Carr not intervening, Moore said he will be “pushing hard to get a different attorney general in the next election.” 

“Word on the street is he plans on running for governor. You know, I’ll do everything I can to campaign against him and in hopes of another governor, because I certainly don’t want that going forward for the future of our state,” Moore said. 

Carr launched his gubernatorial campaign for the 2026 race this week. 

Moore said it was not enough for Carr to appear on “Fox & Friends” last week decrying the 2020-era criminal justice reforms when Gonzalez came to power as district attorney.

“As a father, the Attorney General believes that the Court should have been able to consider the strongest possible sentence given the horrific nature of the crimes committed. Unfortunately, the current Athens District Attorney disagreed,” Carr’s spokesperson Kara Murray said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Under the Georgia Constitution and law, the Attorney General does not have the authority to do what some are suggesting. The decision not to seek the death penalty was solely at the discretion of the local District Attorney, who had exclusive jurisdiction over this case.” 

In a separate statement reacting to the verdict, Carr said Riley’s death “should have never occurred” and “it is absolutely gut-wrenching to hear the evidence that Laken Riley fought for her life and fought for her dignity, and the statements made by her family and friends in court break my heart.” 

“We’re grateful to Sheila Ross with the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council for ensuring that a conviction was obtained, and we will continue to pray for all who knew and loved Laken,” Carr said. 

Gonzalez lost her re-election bid this month. She handed the prosecution of Ibarra over to Sheila Ross in February.

The Biden administration told Congress it plans to cancel $4.65 billion in debt owed by Ukraine, approximately half of an economic loan offered earlier this year. 

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller confirmed the plans in a briefing on Wednesday. “So we have taken the step that was outlined in the law to cancel those loans, provide that economic assistance to Ukraine,” he said. 

In April, Congress passed a supplemental funding package that earmarked $60 billion worth of aid for Ukraine, including $9 billion structured as a loan, with a provision that allowed the administration to forgive it, according to Miller. 

Miller added that Congress could pass a resolution of disapproval to overturn the cancellation. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., introduced such a resolution on Wednesday night. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., immediately said he would introduce a resolution to block the measure. 

Such a resolution is unlikely to pass a Democratic-controlled Senate, and President Joe Biden could veto it. The supplemental funding package gave the administration the power to forgive 50% of the loan, and the remaining 50% could be forgiven after January 2026.

RUSSIA LAUNCHED INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILE TOWARD UKRAINE, AIR FORCE SAYS

“On his way out, Joe Biden is trying to forgive $4.65 billion of debt Ukraine owes America’s taxpayers. I just introduced H.J. Res 224 to stop this “America Last” policy from taking effect,” he posted to X, formerly Twitter.

Congress has appropriated more than $175 billion for Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.

Biden has gone into overdrive to assist Ukraine in the weeks since President-elect Donald Trump won the election. 

After months of hesitation, he authorized Ukraine to use U.S.-provided long-range missiles to strike into Russia this week. Shortly thereafter, he allowed them to use anti-personnel land mines, which drew the ire of human rights groups. 

US EMBASSY IN KYIV CLOSED WEDNESDAY AS ‘POTENTIAL SIGNIFICANT AIR ATTACK’ LOOMS

The Biden administration said the decision was made after Russia brought in 10,000 troops from North Korea to fight in the war in Ukraine. 

Biden has also vowed to commit the remaining $7 billion from the supplemental package to Ukraine before Biden leaves office. On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced $275 million for Ukraine that would include more drones, artillery ammunition and mortars. 

Trump allies have accused Biden of “escalating” the war on his way out the door “for politics.” 

Other hawkish lawmakers say it’s a long overdue step. 

Earlier this month, Biden also approved U.S. military contractors going to Ukraine to help the country maintain and repair U.S.-made weapons systems. 

It’s unclear whether President-elect Donald Trump will keep such policies in place when he takes office, though he has suggested that he believes he could end the war “in 24 hours” at the negotiating table with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.