U.S. Helps Defend Israel but Refuses to Partake in Offensive Attacks

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U.S. Helps Defend Israel but Refuses to Partake in Offensive Attacks

(Headline USA) Joe Biden lauded American forces who helped Israel down “nearly all” of the drones and missiles fired by Iran and vowed to coordinate a global response to Tehran’s unprecedented attack.

The Pentagon said U.S. forces intercepted “dozens of missiles” and drones launched from Iran, Iraq, Syria and Yemen that were headed toward Israel.

With regional tensions at their highest since the Israel-Hamas war began six months ago, Biden pledged on Saturday that American support for Israel’s defense against attacks by Iran and its proxies is “ironclad.”

The attack marked the first time Iran has launched a direct military assault on Israel, risking a wider regional conflict.

Biden made clear in a call to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the U.S. would not participate in any offensive action against Iran, according to a senior administration official who was not authorized to publicly discuss the private conversation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The U.S. and Israel had been bracing for an attack for days after Iran said it would retaliate for a suspected Israeli strike this month on an Iranian consular building in Syria that killed 12 people, including two senior Iranian generals in the Revolutionary Guard’s elite Quds Force.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in a statement said the U.S. took out dozens of the attacks, but did not provide details on ships or aircraft involved in the operation that commanders had been preparing for over the past two weeks.

“Our forces remain postured to protect U.S. troops and partners in the region, provide further support for Israel’s defense, and enhance regional stability,” Austin said, adding that troops are standing ready to prevent any further conflict.

The U.S., along with its allies, have sent direct messages to Tehran to warn against further escalating the conflict.

During the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, there have been near-daily exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group along the Israel-Lebanon border. U.S. officials have recorded more than 150 attacks by Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria on U.S. forces at bases in those countries since war started on Oct. 7.

One attack in late January killed three U.S. service members in Jordan. In retaliation, the U.S. launched a massive air assault, hitting more than 85 targets at seven locations in Iraq and Syria.

Meantime, on Saturday, commandos from Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard rappelled from a helicopter onto an Israeli-affiliated container ship near the Strait of Hormuz and seized the vessel.

Watson, the NSC spokesperson, said the U.S. strongly condemned the seizure and urged Iran to release the ship and crew immediately.

“We will work with our partners to hold Iran to account for its actions,” she said.

Also Saturday, the West Bank also saw some of the worst violence since Hamas’ attack on Israel

Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press

Podcaster Recounts Dinner w/ Barron Trump Following Viral Video

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Podcaster Recounts Dinner w/ Barron Trump Following Viral Video

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) Podcast host and businessman Patrick Bet-David opened up about his recent dinner with Barron Trump, just days after a photo of them together went viral, with Trump’s towering height capturing widespread attention.

Speaking on his PBD podcast on April 8, Bet-David reflected on his experience, emphasizing Barron Trump’s engaging personality. He described the former first son as “funny, bright, and balanced.” Joining Bet-David on the podcast were guest hosts Adam Sosnick, Tom Ellsworth and Vincent Oshana, who was also present at the dinner. 

During the podcast, Oshana shared a humorous anecdote about the dinner, recounting how loud music unexpectedly interrupted their conversation at Mar-a-Lago. Barron Trump’s response to the disturbance ignored the laughter from the group.

“All the sudden the music just comes on loud—just seemed like, ‘What the hell is that? It’s like my freaking dad’s the DJ,’” Oshana recounted. “All you see is the president on his iPad, the light’s in his face. … and Barron’s like, ‘Guys, I’ll be in my room and the house is shaking, like my dad plays the music loud.” 

Earlier in the podcast, Bet-David echoed Oshana’s comments about Barron Trump, saying that the 18-year-old led the dinner with stories. Barron’s presence was so noticeable that Tom Ellsworth—who also attended the dinner—did not say a word throughout. Ellsworth is known to be talkative. 

“I’ve never seen Tom laugh this hard for an hour and a half,” Bet-David said. “Tom is one of those guys that if we go to dinner, no one is going to talk more than Tom. … Tom didn’t say a single word. Nothing. … We just watched Barron run dinner with stories, entertainment, everything.” 

The dinner garnered attention following the release of a viral photo captioned, “Let’s take this country back,” featuring Bet-David, Barron Trump, businessman Justin Waller, MMA fighter Colby Covington, and conservative personality Bo Loudon. The image, initially shared by Waller, quickly gained traction on social media, particularly due to Barron Trump’s rare appearances in public photos.

In the podcast, Bet-David revealed that Barron Trump had extended the invitation to Mar-a-Lago as a fan of his podcasts, which cover a range of topics including politics, the economy, pop culture, sports and daily life.

With a substantial following on YouTube, Bet-David has emerged as a prominent commentator, often hosting conservative figures on his platform. 

Guess How Much Gov. Hochul Earned in Second Term? Hint: Double Past Income

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Guess How Much Gov. Hochul Earned in Second Term? Hint: Double Past Income

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and her husband, Bill Hochul, saw their income double in 2023, just a year into her second full term. 

According to tax returns disclosed by the governor and reported by outlet City & State, the couple’s gross income surged to approximately $1,902,102, a doubling of their 2022 earnings. 

Bill Hochul, former federal prosecutor for the Western District of New York, chiefly contributed to this increase with earnings of $1.5 million from his senior vice president and general counsel position at gambling company Delaware North. Notably, this substantial sum was earned despite his departure from the company in the summer of 2023. 

As reported by City & State, the couple paid $610,072 in federal taxes and $123,090 in state charges, reflecting tax rates of 32.94 percent and 6.85 percent at the state level, respectively. 

Their income also included $80,579 in deferred payments from Delaware North and $45,544 in pension payments from Bill Hochul’s appointment by Obama as a federal prosecutor. 

In contrast, Kathy Hochul’s income was $250,000, stemming from her role as governor, which she assumed following Andrew Cuomo’s resignation amid allegations of sexual harassment and a COVID-19 death scandal. Kathy Hochul secured a full term in 2022, winning over conservative firebrand Lee Zeldin. 

The Hochuls also demonstrated philanthropy, donating approximately $85,000 to various charities, including the American Diabetes Association, the Erie County SPCA, Planned Parenthood, the Fresh Air Fund, the World Wildlife Fund and Habitat for Humanity—according to City & State. 

Although New York law doesn’t compel governors to disclose their tax returns, Kathy Hochul, following the precedent set by past governors, opted for transparency by releasing hers, as reported by City & State. 

Trump Blames Biden for Iranian Attack; Says It Wouldn’t Have Happen Under His Watch

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Trump Blames Biden for Iranian Attack; Says It Wouldn’t Have Happen Under His Watch

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) Former President Donald Trump reacted to the Iranian attack against Israel on Saturday evening, blaming President Joe Biden for showing weakness in foreign conflicts. 

Speaking to supporters during a Pennsylvania rally, Trump asserted that under his leadership, such a conflict wouldn’t have occurred. 

“I want to say God bless the people of Israel, they’re under attack right now,” Trump said shortly after taking the stage.

He added: “That’s because we show great weakness. The weakness that we’ve shown is unbelievable and it would not have happened if we were in office. You know that. They know that. Everybody knows that.” 

Trump’s remarks came after Iran unleashed an offensive aerial attack on Israel on Saturday night, launching over 200 drones and missiles in response to a deadly Israeli airstrike two weeks prior. 

The massive Iranian attack caused minimal damage, with only a child being hurt, Israeli military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari declared, as reported by the New York Times.

Later in his speech, Trump, currently seeking victory in the 2024 presidential election, reiterated his support for Israel and expressed regret for the conflict.

“America prays for Israel,” Trump added. “We send our absolute support to everyone in harm’s way. This is an attack that would not have happened.”

If elected in the November general election, Trump pledged to restore peace through what he described as “strength,” emphasizing the need to revive American power abroad and at home.

“We were respected four years ago all over the world,” Trump declared. “Today, we are considered a joke. It’s not going to going to be for long. Believe me. it’s not going to be for long.”

As the former president criticized Biden’s record on the economy, immigration, and world conflict, he remarked, “Everything he touches turns to shit.”

Democratic Congressman Proposes Federal Law on Redistricting

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Democratic Congressman Proposes Federal Law on Redistricting

(Alan Wooten, The Center Square) Less than a week after his party was court-ordered to pay legal fees for “frivolous” and “unreasonable” intervention in a third party’s try for ballot access, North Carolina Congressman Wiley Nickel was at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday introducing legislation for fair maps.

The Fair and Impartial Redistricting for Meaningful and Accountable Political Systems Act would establish independent nonpartisan redistricting commissions in every state. The FAIR MAPS Act, as known by acronym, would have impact on the 15th Amendment to the Constitution and have a 15-member commission chosen by a “nonpartisan agency established or designated by a state” that follows the bill’s rigid selection process.

With him for the occasion were Virginia Kase Solomón, president and CEO of Common Cause; Rushad Thomas, director of Legislative Affairs for End Citizens United; Mark Gaber, senior director of redistricting at the Campaign Legal Center; and La’Meshia Whittington, president of Democracy Green.

Nickel, a Democrat from Cary, continued his push for the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, Freedom to Vote Act, and the Redistricting Transparency and Accountability Act.

At the House Triangle on Capitol Hill, Nickel told a small assemblage, “This story isn’t unique to North Carolina, and the problem isn’t just with the current state Legislature. History has made one thing clear: Politicians can’t be trusted to fairly draw electoral maps.”

U.S. Rep Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., is cosponsor of the legislation.

Timing for Nickel’s pitch coincides with multiple lawsuits regarding North Carolina voting laws, and the legislation introduced Tuesday doesn’t necessarily target each. The U.S. Constitution’s Article 1 and amendments 15, 19, 24 and 26 are only the tip of the iceberg on how Americans vote and politicians of today – particularly in Nickel’s home state – have found lawyers aplenty still ready to make bank in the details.

Nickel, a California native with ties to Chicago before choosing to raise a family in North Carolina, left the state Senate for the Beltway and during his first term representing the 13th Congressional District lashed out at state Republicans for how redistricting maps were drawn. He’s one of three Democrats – Reps. Jeff Jackson in the 14th and Kathy Manning in the 6th – who said that was the reason for not seeking reelection.

Jackson chose to run for state attorney general against U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop, the Republican leaving the 8th.

In making his choice in December, Nickel said of Republicans, “They are going to get 71% to 79% of the seats in Congress, despite North Carolina being a purple state, a 50-50 state right down the middle.”

According to the Board of Elections website at the time, the state’s more than 7.3 million voters were 36% unaffiliated, 32.7% Democrats and 30% Republicans. Four months later, there’s 7.45 million voters, with percentages hardly changed – 36.8% unaffiliated, 32.3% Democrats, 30% Republicans.

For context, the state is known as a split-ticket pattern in more than half a century for presidents and governors. Republican presidential candidates starting with Richard Nixon in 1968 have won the state’s last 14 cycles with just two exceptions (Jimmy Carter in 1976, Barack Obama in 2008) and neither of those repeated in reelection bids.

In the last decade or so, more statewide races have favored Republicans than Democrats; those unaffiliated tilt the tide. Even still, since Daniel Lindsay Russell was governor from 1897-1901, North Carolinians – who couldn’t reelect governors at all until 1977’s constitutional amendment – have elected 23 Democrats. GOP Govs. James Holshouser (1973-77), Jim Martin (1985-93), and Pat McCrory (2013-17) are the only exceptions to the trend.

Last week, the North Carolina Green Party was recipient of a favorable ruling from U.S. District Chief Judge James Dever. The North Carolina Democratic Party and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee was ordered to pay $6,525 for legal fees of the Green Party in a lawsuit involving the state Board of Elections and 2022 Green Party U.S. Senate candidate Matthew Hoh.

Earlier this year, U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., sought to have his name on the Super Tuesday primary ballot in North Carolina. The Democratic Party has responsibility to submit names and did not include him. Voters had a choice of President Joe Biden or “no preference,” the latter of which garnered nearly 89,000 votes (12.7%) from 698,580 cast.

Report: Chronic Absenteeism in Public Schools a National Crisis

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Report: Chronic Absenteeism in Public Schools a National Crisis

(Bethany Blankley, The Center Square) A record number of students are skipping school, propelling chronic absenteeism to a national crisis, according to an analysis of public-school attendance data.

The analysis comes as public school districts nationwide are laying off teachers, citing high inflationary costs, budget deficits, and spending decisions related to federal COVID-era funding, which is running out after schools received windfalls in federal subsidies for three years.

Chronic absenteeism – the percentage of students who missed at least 10% of a school year – surged from 15% of students in 2018 to 28% in 2022, according to an American Enterprise Institute analysis, “Long COVID for Public Schools: Chronic Absenteeism Before and After the Pandemic.”

The analysis relies on AEI’s “Return to Learn Tracker Chronic Absenteeism Data Collection,” which it claims is “the most comprehensive and current data collection on pandemic and post-pandemic chronic absenteeism.” The tracker was created by Nat Malkus, senior fellow and deputy director of AEI’s Education Policy Studies, who is also the author of the report. Malksus collected weekly data on the remote-learning status of 8,600 school districts that collectively educated 89% of public-school students. Not all states reported data by the time of the report’s 2024 publication.

During the 2021–2022 school year, 28% of students were chronically absent, an increase of roughly 89% over pre-pandemic rates, his analysis found.

Although chronic absenteeism fell in 33 of 39 states reporting data since 2022, his analysis found that it remained 75% higher in 2023 than “the pre-pandemic baseline.”

“Chronic absenteeism increased for all district types, but rates were highest in districts with low achievement and higher poverty, affecting over one in three students,” Malkus says.

Current chronic absenteeism is “the most pressing post-pandemic problem in public schools,” Malksus argues, and is anticipated to “severely hamper” any improvements to COVID-era learning losses. Extended school closures, preventing in-person instruction, and remote learning programs caused historic and decades of learning losses for grade school students, The Center Square has reported.

“Unfortunately, nearly four years after the start of the pandemic, chronic absenteeism rates indicate that the ‘Return to Learn’ name is still apt,” Malkus said. “Even though nearly every school returned to in-person instruction over two years ago, many students have not fully returned to school in earnest.”

A New York Times analysis of the data found that “The trends suggest that something fundamental has shifted in American childhood and the culture of school, in ways that may be long lasting. What was once a deeply ingrained habit – wake up, catch the bus, report to class – is now something far more tenuous.”

The Times report points to parental relationships disintegrating with school boards as one reason for chronic absenteeism.

“The habit of daily attendance – and many families’ trust – was severed when schools shuttered in spring 2020,” the Times states. “Even after schools reopened, things hardly snapped back to normal.”

Several reports have pointed to parents pulling their children out of public school nationwide ,citing destructive lockdown policies, including mask mandates, as well as other problems leading to learning losses. Others have pointed to the FBI being weaponized against parents for raising issues with school boards, leading to congressional investigations.

Republican AGs Investigate Investment Company Over Anti-Israel Policies

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Republican AGs Investigate Investment Company Over Anti-Israel Policies

(Bethany Blankley, The Center Square) A coalition of Republican attorneys general has launched an investigation into MSCI, a New York-based investment company managing roughly more than $5 billion in assets, after allegations surfaced of its boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) policies against Israel.

The coalition, led by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, gave MSCI chairman and CEO Henry Fernandez until April 18 to respond.

They contacted Fernandez after the Jewish News Syndicate reported that MSCI’s ESG policies appear to downgrade dozens of companies “that it said committed ‘human rights violations’ simply for conducting business in Judea and Samaria and eastern Jerusalem.”

JNS reported that it found “that MSCI has tagged nine companies that generated ESG controversy ratings at Morningstar for doing business in Judea and Samaria with its own such ratings” and contacted Florida officials.

In a letter to Fernandez, the AGs express “great concern” over the report saying, “the states we represent unequivocally support Israel’s right to exist and oppose the BDS movement.”

The coalition represents the states of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.

“While the BDS movement ‘markets itself as a nonviolent movement’ designed to pressure Israel to ‘withdraw to its pre-1967 borders,’ its leadership in reality ‘seeks nothing less than the elimination of Israel as a Jewish state,’” they said. “According to a cofounder of the BDS movement, it is ‘but the first stage on the road to fulfilling the vision of the dismantling of Israel.’ The movement often focuses on pressuring large investment portfolios – such as those run by municipality or university – to divest from companies that ‘aid Israel’s occupation.’”

They also said the BDS movement has two goals: “to economically cripple Israel and create a false narrative of Israel’s occupation and colonization.”

MSCI has not released a statement in response to the inquiry. In a report released last month, it states that according to data analyzed in two indexes, companies with higher MSCI ESG ratings outperformed their lower-rated counterparts over the last 11 and 17 years, according to when the indexes were launched. MSCI also has several Israel indexes created to “measure the performance of the large and mid and small cap segments of the Israeli equity market.”

The AGs’ inquiry into MSCI followed a similar inquiry in 2022 into Chicago-based Morningstar and its subsidiary, Sustainalytics. The AGs of Kentucky and West Virginia led a coalition raising concerns about Sustainalytics, an ESG ratings and research firm that manages roughly $264 billion in assets, allegedly providing financial ratings and creating a “watchlist” of financial companies located in “occupied territories” in Israel. Last October, Florida placed Morningstar-Sustainalytics on its list of “Scrutinized Companies that Boycott Israel.”

Morningstar then conducted an internal investigation and subsequently committed to implementing seven recommendations made by the end of 2024 after working with a coalition of Jewish organizations, Jewish Federations of North America says. The recommendations involve Morningstar changing its business practices and eliminating anti-Israel bias in company ratings. A review of Morningstar-Sustainalytics’ policies found that it rated a disproportionate percentage of Israeli companies or companies operating in Israel based on “faulty assumptions, poor sourcing, and flawed models [which] threatened to deny these companies access to capital from ESG funds and mar their reputations.”

A result of the coalition’s work with Morningstar “has already resulted in significant change,” Jewish Federations said. “Last year, Morningstar removed unfair controversy ratings from over 100 firms operating in or doing business with Israel, a 94% decrease.”

Pointing to its efforts against Morningstar, the AG coalition said, “we oppose the BDS movement in all forms, especially given the recent rise in antisemitism across the United States.” They also raised concerns about an “egregious” allegation that MSCI deducted ESG points from an Israeli company because it constructed security and surveillance barriers to protect Israeli from terrorists.

So far, at least 38 states have taken actions to oppose the BDS movement, according to the Jewish virtual library, a project of the American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise.

According to a recent report, in the three months after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, antisemitic incidents increased throughout the U.S. by 360% – after the total number of antisemitic incidents were already at a historic high in 2022, The Center Square reported.

Colorado House Committee Votes to End Impeachment Hearing against Griswold

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Colorado House Committee Votes to End Impeachment Hearing against Griswold

(Joe Mueller, The Center Square) Colorado’s House Judiciary Committee voted along party lines to end an impeachment hearing against Democratic Secretary of State Jena Griswold for alleged malfeasance in office.

Reps. Ryan Armagost, R-Berthoud, and Rose Pugliese, R-Colorado Springs, were the prime sponsors of House Resolution 24-1006 as they introduced six articles of impeachment against Griswold. The first article alleged Griswold violated the state constitution by “making public statements about President Trump’s guilt for engaging in an insurrection when he has not, in any court of law, been found guilty of engaging in the alleged insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021.”

The articles also said Griswold violated the state constitution by denying Coloradans the right to vote for their choice for president by preventing Trump from being listed as a candidate on Colorado’s 2024 Republican presidential primary ballot. However, Trump appeared on the ballot as the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling allowing his removal included a stipulation to include the former president if he appealed the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“The rhetoric used by the secretary of state is nothing more than an attempt to further divide Coloradans and create, in the words of the U.S. Supreme Court, ‘chaos,’” Pugliese said. “What our constituents want is a secretary of state for all Coloradans, regardless of party affiliation or no affiliation.”

The hearing lasted five hours on Tuesday and concluded with an 8-3 vote to end the proceedings.

“The House Republicans’ proceeding against me has failed,” Griswold said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing the work of defending our democracy and protecting Colorado’s gold-standard elections.”

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Trump and against the Colorado Supreme Court on March 4. It found states didn’t have the authority to keep federal candidates off the ballot under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Colorado’s presidential primary took place the following day, March 5, and Trump received 555,863 votes, or 63.46%.

Colorado Republicans, led by U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, in early March threatened to orchestrate a recall of Griswold.

“Can’t you see that we likewise feel strongly that the chief elections officer’s actions are a ‘disdain for democracy, transparency and the 1st Amendment?’” Pugliese said. “We truly believe that this is fundamentally wrong.”

Griswold characterized the impeachment as “conspiracies and political games.”

“I will not be intimidated by this baseless proceeding,” Griswold said in a statement earlier this month. “While Republican House Legislators waste taxpayer dollars to score cheap political points, I’ll be doing my job of ensuring every Colorado voter – Republican, Democratic, and unaffiliated alike – can make their voices heard in free and fair elections.”

Poll: Democrats Hold Narrow Edge in Pennsylvania

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Poll: Democrats Hold Narrow Edge in Pennsylvania

(Anthony Hennen, The Center Square) — Voter sentiment offers a mixed bag to Democratic candidates in Pennsylvania, according to a recent poll.

Gov. Josh Shapiro’s popularity among residents remains steady, and President Joe Biden has a lead over Donald Trump in Pennsylvania, but all is not rosy for Democrats.

The latest quarterly poll from the Commonwealth Foundation found Shapiro has a 62% approval rating and Biden leads Trump 44-41. But only 35% of Pennsylvanians think the state is moving in the right direction. Biden has a 54% disapproval rating in the state.

And, in the U.S. Senate race, incumbent Sen. Bob Casey leads presumptive Republican challenger Dave McCormick 47-30 — but 23% of poll respondents were undecided between the two.

What the polling reveals may be less of a Democratic or Republican lead, but a certain disillusionment with the choices voters get at the polling place. In state and national politics, a significant chunk of Pennsylvania voters are unhappy with the status quo and with either major party.

A majority of respondents, 60%, said they were “somewhat dissatisfied” or “very dissatisfied” with 2024’s presidential candidates. That dismay could carry over to state races, too.

Erik Telford, ​​senior vice president of public affairs for the Commonwealth Foundation, said that “it’s a red flag” when an incumbent polls at less than 50%.

“Across the state, what turnout looks like, how opinions change over time — a lot can happen,” he said. “Much remains to be seen.”

With no names attached, though, Pennsylvania Democrats may have more hope.

Commonwealth’s poll found that 43% of respondents preferred a Democratic candidate in Congress over a Republican one. And, for president, respondents also preferred a Democrat over a Republican, 51% to 44%. That represents a five point gain for Democrats since the last quarterly poll.

What pushes a registered voter’s concerns are mostly pocketbook issues: inflation/cost of living was the top-ranked issue (22%), followed by crime/rising violence (8%), and the economy (7%).

The same issues were at the top of mind for Pennsylvanians considering a move: lower cost of living, lower taxes, and better jobs and opportunities were the top answers respondents noted for why they wanted to leave the commonwealth.

A YouTube video by Decision Desk HQ covers current polling for the rest of the nation, and projects a hefty Trump lead.

Left Lobs Disturbing Attacks Against Black Woman Behind Viral Trump Video

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Left Lobs Disturbing Attacks Against Black Woman Behind Viral Trump Video

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) A left-leaning media outlet has launched a smear campaign against the black woman featured in a viral video from Atlanta, where she embraced former President Donald Trump and claimed that he had done more for Historically Black Colleges and Universities than Biden. 

Seemingly displeased with the video, the media outlet Meidas Touch delved into the professional background of Michaelah Montgomery, the woman behind the viral clip shot inside a Chick-fil-A. 

At the heart of the report is the claim that the viral moments were all fabricated and that Montgomery—despite genuinely embracing Trump—was part of the campaign’s efforts to appeal to black Americans.

“Nothing about Trump or his campaign is authentic,” wrote J.D. Wolf of Meidas Touch in the report, published on Friday. 

“Montgomery has been working for MAGA Republican causes for years. Don’t fall for the Fox News hosts pushing this as some kind of spontaneous indicator of support,” they added later in the report.

Among the findings highlighted by Meidas Touch to discredit Montgomery is the fact that she posted on LinkedIn that she worked for the Georgia Republican Party as an intern and that she posted photos with conservative figures Candace Owens and Charlie Kirk for Blaxit, a movement of black Americans exiting the Democratic Party.

Despite the negative undertones of their report, Meidas Touch claimed that while “Montgomery doesn’t need anyone’s permission to support Trump, to be a Black conservative, or to get paid for Republican political work, but let’s not pretend this is some organic event that unfolded.”

To the detriment of the left and Meidas Touch, the videos—whether prepared in advance or not—showed that Trump poses a threat to President Joe Biden’s re-election chances, as evidenced in recent polls. 

According to a Wall Street Journal poll of seven swing states, 57 percent of Black men said they planned to vote for Biden, while 30 percent said they would vote for Trump.

Such numbers starkly contrast with how black Americans voted in 2020. According to the Journal, citing AP VoteCast, 87 percent of black men voted for Biden in 2020, while 12 percent backed Trump. 

Such a trend is also evident among black women. As reported by the Journal, 77 percent of black women planned to vote for Biden—a figure much lower than the 93 percent he received in 2020.

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