California Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Tuesday, arguing that the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/eric-swalwell-faces-doj-criminal-probe-over-mortgage-fraud-accusations?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Eric+Swalwell+Faces+DOJ+Criminal+Probe+Over+Mortgage+Fraud+Accusations">accusations of mortgage fraud</a> against him are &#8220;patently false,&#8221; and claiming that the Washington, D.C., home at the center of the allegations is his wife&#8217;s primary residence, not his.
Swalwell argues in the lawsuit that the mortgage and tax fraud accusations are motivated by President Donald Trump&#8217;s desire to &#8220;seek retribution against his political enemies.&#8221; The lawsuit names Bill Pulte, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as a defendant along with the Federal Housing Agency, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, and Federal National Mortgage Association. Earlier this month, Pulte referred Swalwell to Attorney General Pam Bondi over alleged mortgage and tax fraud related to his home in Washington, D.C.
Swalwell accuses Pulte of abusing his position &#8220;by scouring databases at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac—two government-sponsored enterprises—for the private mortgage records of several prominent Democrats.&#8221;
&#8220;He then used those records to concoct fanciful allegations of mortgage fraud, which he referred to the Department of Justice for prosecution. The target of his most recent criminal referral is Plaintiff Eric Swalwell—one of the President’s most vocal and visible critics in Congress,&#8221; the lawsuit adds.
Swalwell was the fourth Democrat in recent months to face mortgage fraud allegations, after Pulte also sent criminal referrals to the DOJ for Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Biden-appointed Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook. The Justice Department is reportedly looking into the handling of the mortgage fraud investigation into Sen. Schiff, and whether the probe was pushed at the behest of Trump administration officials, the Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/justice-department-mortgage-fraud-ed-martin-8b29a802d74b90576e0332d610ea99ce">reported</a>.
Right now, DailyWire+ annual memberships are fifty percent off during our Black Friday sale. Join now at <a href="http://dailywire.com/blackfriday" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dailywire.com/blackfriday</a>.
Swalwell is accused of claiming his $1.2 million home in the nation&#8217;s capital as his primary residence despite living in California. Claiming the D.C. home as his primary residence would have qualified him for millions of dollars’ worth of loans and refinancing, the New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/11/13/us-news/eric-swalwells-1-2-million-dc-home-target-of-doj-mortgage-fraud-criminal-referral/">reported</a>. Swalwell pushes back against those accusations in the lawsuit, which states that the Democratic congressman &#8220;disclaimed any intent to occupy the District of Columbia home as his primary residence in a sworn affidavit attached to his mortgage agreement.&#8221;
According to the lawsuit, the D.C. home is the primary residence of Swalwell&#8217;s wife, while the congressman remains a permanent resident of California.
&#8220;Pulte’s referral to the Justice Department was not only a gross mischaracterization of reality. It also represented a gross abuse of power that violated the law,&#8221; the suit argues.
Swalwell&#8217;s lawsuit also accuses the Federal Housing Finance Agency of engaging in &#8220;what appeared to be a coordinated leak&#8221; to news outlets and conservatives on social media after details about the allegations against Swalwell &#8220;appeared simultaneously&#8221; as Pulte referred Swalwell to the Justice Department.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency has not responded to a request to comment.
As Swalwell faces a potential federal investigation over mortgage fraud accusations, he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/eric-swalwell-wants-to-get-out-of-d-c-as-mortgage-fraud-scrutiny-intensifies?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Eric+Swalwell+Wants+To+Get+Out+Of+D.C.+As+Mortgage+Fraud+Scrutiny+Intensifies">announced</a> last week that he is running for governor of California. Swalwell announced his run during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel&#8217;s late-night show, saying he would focus on addressing economic issues and pushing back against the Trump administration&#8217;s policies.

Eric Swalwell

Swalwell Sues Trump Official Over Mortgage Fraud Claims, Insists D.C. Home Is His Wife’s

California

Congress

Democrats

Donald Trump

Politics

Trump Administration

Washington D.C.

The Ohio state House of Representatives passed a bill along party lines last week that would allow public schools to teach on the &#8220;positive influence of religion,&#8221; particularly Christianity, in history courses.
House Bill 486, titled the &#8220;<a href="https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/hb486">Charlie Kirk American Heritage Act</a>,&#8221; would codify teachers&#8217; rights under the state constitution to instruct their students on how Christianity positively shaped U.S. history, according to one of the bill&#8217;s sponsors, state Rep. Gary Click, NBC Columbus affiliate WCMH <a href="https://www.nbc4i.com/news/politics/charlie-kirk-bill-to-teach-positively-about-christianity-passes-ohio-house/">reported</a>.
&#8220;The teaching of the historical, positive impact of religion on American history is consistent with the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. An accurate and historical account of the influence of Judeo-Christian values on the freedom and liberties ingrained in our culture is imperative to reducing ignorance of American history, hate, and violence within our society,&#8221; the bill states. &#8220;Accurate historical instruction regarding verifiable, historical impacts of religion on American history is factual and is not proselytization or a violation of the First Amendment.&#8221;
The text of House Bill 486 provides examples of how public school teachers can teach on the positive influence of Christianity, such as the faith of the pilgrims, the clear presence of Christianity in the Mayflower Compact, the appeal to divine power in the Declaration of Independence, and Christianity&#8217;s influence on the U.S. Constitution. The bill is named after conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, a devout and outspoken Christian, who was assassinated while speaking on the Utah Valley University campus on September 10.
“Charlie was a committed Christian, whose life and work will serve as a testament to the power of conservative ideals combined with a legacy of faith for generations to come,” Click said.
Right now, DailyWire+ annual memberships are fifty percent off during our Black Friday sale. Join now at <a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible c-link--underline" href="http://dailywire.com/blackfriday" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://dailywire.com/blackfriday" data-sk="tooltip_parent">dailywire.com/blackfriday</a>.
All 62 Republicans in the Ohio House voted in favor of the legislation, while all 27 Democrats opposed it. It now heads to the state Senate, where Republicans hold a 24-9 majority.
“It’s essential that we highlight the positive influence religion has had throughout our history – uniting communities, enriching our shared values, and safeguarding our First Amendment rights as Americans to speak and worship freely,” said Republican state Rep. Michael Dovilla.
The bill was criticized by education and civil liberties groups and advocates for the separation of church and state. The Ohio American Civil Liberties Union <a href="https://www.acluohio.org/news/house-bill-486-opponent-testimony/">argued</a> that the bill &#8220;is obviously designed to paint Christianity in the most positive light while deliberately avoiding the negative.&#8221;
&#8220;The ACLU of Ohio submits HB 486 is, at a minimum, unneeded,&#8221; the organization added. &#8220;Politicians leaning on schools and universities to teach their version of Christianity and religion is an idea rejected centuries ago, and for good reasons.&#8221;
Gabe Guidarini, chairman of the Ohio College Republican Federation, pushed back on the criticism, arguing, “This bill does not impose a belief system, it simply allows teachers and professors to include historical truths that have too often been neglected — how faith shaped the resolve of the pilgrims, guided our Founders’ convictions, inspired movements that provided us the liberties we enjoy today and informed the moral fabric that has bound our republic together since its birth.&#8221;

Charlie Kirk

Charlie Kirk-Inspired Bill Allowing Schools To Teach Christianity’s ‘Positive Influence’ Nears Law

Christianity

Education

History

Ohio

Religion

U.S.

President Donald Trump was busy on Sunday night sharing numerous social media posts — many from anonymous accounts — that accused six Democratic lawmakers of sedition over their calls for military members to disobey &#8220;illegal orders.&#8221;
After two Democratic senators and four representatives appeared in a video <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrats-urge-military-to-disobey-orders-from-trump-admin-trigger-accusations-of-insurrection">urging</a> military members to refuse unlawful orders, Trump suggested that their action could be viewed as &#8220;SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!&#8221; Trump later clarified that he was not calling for the Democrats to face the death penalty, saying, “In the old days, if you said a thing like that, that was punishable by death.”
Trump, however, appears to believe that the Democrats should be punished in some form. On Sunday night, he shared an AI-generated video depicting the six Democrats in <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115601863709910309">prison</a>. In another <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115601898049338376">post</a> shared by Trump, an anonymous social media user argues that the Democrats&#8217; plea is the &#8220;literal definition of sedition and they literally put it on video!!!!&#8221;
The president also <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115601867440120506">shared</a> multiple posts that argued that the Democrats are guilty of violating <a href="https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section2387&amp;num=0&amp;edition=prelim">18 USC 2387</a>, which makes it a crime to &#8220;interfere with, impair, or influence the loyalty, morale, or discipline of the military or naval forces of the United States.&#8221; Those who violate the U.S. code face up to ten years in prison. Trump shared yet another post that <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115601883571083274">called</a> for bypassing the &#8220;corrupted&#8221; justice system by holding military tribunals.
The video that caused an uproar and resulted in accusations of treason was made by Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), and Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO). In the video, the Democrats accuse the Trump administration of &#8220;pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens.&#8221;
Right now, DailyWire+ annual memberships are fifty percent off during our Black Friday sale. Join now at <a href="http://dailywire.com/blackfriday" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dailywire.com/blackfriday</a>.
“Our laws are clear: You can refuse illegal orders,” they said in the video, adding, “You can refuse illegal orders. You must refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution.”
Another <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115601862810818001">post</a> shared by Trump on Sunday night suggests that Slotkin is using her training and knowledge from working at the CIA to &#8220;invoke a rebellion.&#8221; Slotkin, who worked for the CIA and the then-Defense Department in the early 2000s, defended the Democrats&#8217; video, arguing that it is lawful to disobey illegal orders and that the Founding Fathers wanted &#8220;to ensure our military upholds its oath to the Constitution — not a king.&#8221;
On Sunday, Slotkin was asked by &#8220;This Week&#8221; host Martha Raddatz on ABC whether any of Trump&#8217;s orders have been unlawful.
&#8220;To my knowledge, I am not aware of things that are illegal, but certainly, there are some legal gymnastics going on with these Caribbean strikes and everything related to Venezuela,&#8221; Slotkin <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/week-transcript-11-23-25-sen-elissa-slotkin/story?id=127763059">said</a>.
She added that she is also concerned about &#8220;the use of U.S. military on American shores &#8230; in our cities and in our streets.&#8221;
Another post <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115600871102876776">shared</a> by Trump came from one social media user, who stated, &#8220;Get all of those traitorous sons of b*tches for sedition at the very least. Those pompous traitorous communities should be impeached and prosecuted.&#8221;

Trump Amplifies Claims That Dem Lawmakers Committed Sedition Against America

Executive

Social Media

U.S. Military

The Department of War <a href="https://x.com/DeptofWar/status/1992999267967905905">initiated</a> a review of &#8220;serious allegations&#8221; against Arizona Democratic Senator Mark Kelly on Monday after he joined five other Democrats in urging U.S. military members to disobey &#8220;illegal orders.&#8221;
The War Department said the review will determine whether Kelly, a U.S. Navy combat veteran and retired astronaut, should be recalled to active duty for &#8220;court-martial proceedings or administrative measures.&#8221; Kelly, along with Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), and Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) — all former military members — <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrats-urge-military-to-disobey-orders-from-trump-admin-trigger-accusations-of-insurrection">released a video</a> last week where they encouraged military members to ignore what they perceived as unlawful orders.
&#8220;The Department of War reminds all individuals that military retirees remain subject to the [Uniform Code of Military Justice] for applicable offenses, and federal laws such as 18 U.S.C. § 2387 prohibit actions intended to interfere with the loyalty, morale, or good order and discipline of the armed forces. Any violations will be addressed through appropriate legal channels,&#8221; the War Department said.
The <a href="https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section2387&amp;num=0&amp;edition=prelim">U.S. code</a> cited by the department makes it a crime &#8220;to interfere with, impair, or influence the loyalty, morale, or discipline of the military or naval forces of the United States&#8221; and &#8220;to cause insubordination, disloyalty, mutiny, or refusal of duty by any member of the military or naval forces of the United States.&#8221; Those who violate 18 U.S.C. 2387 face up to 10 years in prison.
In the video, the six Democrats argued that the Trump administration &#8220;is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens.&#8221;
&#8220;Like us, you all swore an oath to protect and defend this Constitution,&#8221; the Democratic leaders told U.S. service members. &#8220;Right now, the threats to our Constitution aren&#8217;t just coming from abroad, but from right here at home.&#8221;
Right now, DailyWire+ annual memberships are fifty percent off during our Black Friday sale. Join now at <a href="http://dailywire.com/blackfriday" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dailywire.com/blackfriday</a>.
&#8220;Our laws are clear, you can refuse illegal orders,&#8221; the Democrats added. &#8220;You can refuse illegal orders. You must refuse illegal orders.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
We want to speak directly to members of the Military and the Intelligence Community.
The American people need you to stand up for our laws and our Constitution.
Don’t give up the ship. <a href="https://t.co/N8lW0EpQ7r">pic.twitter.com/N8lW0EpQ7r</a>
— Sen. Elissa Slotkin (@SenatorSlotkin) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenatorSlotkin/status/1990774492356902948?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
President Donald Trump responded to the video last week, suggesting that it constituted &#8220;SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH.&#8221; He later clarified that he was not calling for the senators to receive the death penalty, but he has continued to share claims that the Democrats are guilty of sedition.
Kelly <a href="https://x.com/SenMarkKelly/status/1992710684984082803">said</a> on Sunday that Trump is &#8220;calling for the execution of members of Congress.&#8221;
&#8220;His words carry tremendous weight, more so than anybody else in the country, and he should be aware of that,&#8221; the senator added. &#8220;And because of what he says, there [are] now increased threats against us.&#8221;
In their video, the Democratic lawmakers did not give a single example of an illegal order the president has issued to the U.S. military. Senator Slotkin was asked on Sunday whether Trump has given any illegal orders, and she could not name any.
&#8220;I am not aware of things that are illegal, but certainly there are some legal gymnastics that are going on with these Caribbean strikes and everything related to Venezuela,&#8221; Slotkin said.

Mark Kelly

War Department Reviewing ‘Serious Allegations’ Against Sen. Mark Kelly After Dem Military Message

Department of War

The Trump administration unveiled a new plan last week to ramp up offshore drilling off the coasts of Alaska, California, and Florida as the president seeks to usher in a U.S. energy boom. But some members of President Donald Trump&#8217;s party, including the Florida governor, aren&#8217;t thrilled about the administration&#8217;s goal to drill for oil near the Sunshine State&#8217;s beaches and military bases.
The U.S. Department of the Interior <a href="https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-launches-expansive-11th-national-offshore-leasing-program-advance-us-energy">directed</a> the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management last Thursday to open up seven additional lease areas in the Eastern Gulf for offshore drilling, an area in the Gulf of America around 100 miles off of Florida&#8217;s coast. The Trump administration also plans to open up 21 areas for lease off the coast of Alaska and six areas off the Pacific coast.
Florida Republicans, including Governor Ron DeSantis, Sen. Rick Scott, and Sen. Ashley Moody, are urging the administration to pump the brakes on the new plan. The Florida leaders want the federal government to reconsider the policy President Trump enacted during his first term, which banned offshore oil leasing off the coasts of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina through 2032.
&#8220;President Trump’s 2020 memorandum protecting Florida’s eastern Gulf waters represents a thoughtful approach to the issue. The Interior Department should not depart from the 2020 policy,&#8221; DeSantis <a href="https://x.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1991648106254069903">said</a>. The governor&#8217;s office added that the Gulf coast of Florida does &#8220;not have the same oil and gas reserves as other states in the region&#8221; and that the state &#8220;has active sites where drilling occurs on land.&#8221;
Florida politicians argue that the new oil leases threaten Florida&#8217;s pristine beaches, which attract millions of tourists each year, while also interfering with &#8220;critical&#8221; U.S. military bases on the state&#8217;s coast.
Scott, Florida&#8217;s senior senator and former governor, echoed DeSantis, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RickScottSenOffice/posts/floridas-beautiful-beaches-and-coastal-waters-are-so-important-to-our-states-eco/1386895662794430/">arguing</a>, &#8220;Florida’s beautiful beaches and coastal waters are so important to our state’s economy, environment, and military community, which is why I have fought for years to keep drilling off Florida’s coasts and worked closely with President Trump during his first term to extend the moratorium banning oil drilling off Florida’s coasts through 2032.&#8221;
Right now, DailyWire+ annual memberships are fifty percent off during our Black Friday sale. Join now at <a href="http://dailywire.com/blackfriday" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dailywire.com/blackfriday</a>.
&#8220;I have been speaking to Secretary Burgum and made my expectations clear that this moratorium must remain in place, and that in any plan, Florida’s coasts must remain off the table for oil drilling to protect Florida’s tourism, environment, and military training opportunities,&#8221; Scott added.
Senator Moody said the Trump administration&#8217;s move was &#8220;HIGHLY concerning,&#8221; adding that she &#8220;will be engaging directly with the [Interior Department] on this issue.&#8221;
The Interior Department&#8217;s move to free up more areas for offshore drilling is a response to former President Joe Biden&#8217;s &#8220;restrictive&#8221; oil and gas policies, according to the Trump administration.
“Offshore oil and gas production does not happen overnight. It takes years of planning, investment, and hard work before barrels reach the market,” said Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. “The Biden administration slammed the brakes on offshore oil and gas leasing and crippled the long-term pipeline of America’s offshore production. By moving forward with the development of a robust, forward-thinking leasing plan, we are ensuring that America’s offshore industry stays strong, our workers stay employed, and our nation remains energy dominant for decades to come.”
Trump&#8217;s <a href="https://uk.practicallaw.thomsonreuters.com/w-027-8408?originationContext=knowHow&amp;transitionType=KnowHowItem&amp;contextData=(sc.Default)&amp;firstPage=true">2020 memorandum</a> prevented areas off the Florida coast from being considered for &#8220;leasing for purposes of exploration, development, or production&#8221; until 2032. After signing the memorandum in 2020, Trump was criticized by some people who believed the president was seeking to gain political favor among Floridians ahead of the 2020 election.
During his 2024 presidential campaign and after returning to the White House in early 2025, Trump vowed to ramp up American energy production and bring down energy costs for Americans. To accomplish this, Trump said it was time for the United States to &#8220;drill, baby, drill,&#8221; and on his first day back in the White House in January, Trump <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/declaring-a-national-energy-emergency/">declared</a> a national energy emergency.
&#8220;A major focus of our fight to reduce inflation is rapidly reducing the cost of energy. The previous administration cut the number of new oil and gas leases by 95%, slowed pipeline construction to a halt, and closed more than 100 power plants,&#8221; Trump said during his address to Congress in early March.
A group of Florida GOP representatives, including some of Trump&#8217;s most loyal supporters in Congress, also <a href="https://x.com/FBSaunders/status/1991623831610618051/photo/1">signed</a> a letter urging the president to reconsider the Interior Department&#8217;s latest directive.
&#8220;While we wholeheartedly support your push for American energy independence and expanded oil and gas production, the [Eastern Gulf Test and Training Range] is critical to advanced weapons development, flight testing, and joint exercises essential to maintaining America&#8217;s military superiority,&#8221; the letter states.

Florida Oil Drilling

Florida Republicans Aren’t Happy With Trump’s Offshore Drilling Plan

Florida Republicans Aren't Happy With Trump's Offshore Drilling Plan

Florida

Oil and Gas

Republicans

Rick Scott

Ron DeSantis

Air traffic <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-floats-plan-to-reward-air-traffic-controllers-who-didnt-take-time-off-due-to-shutdown">controllers</a> and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/noem-hands-out-10000-checks-to-tsa-agents-who-worked-through-shutdown">TSA agents</a> are getting paid again, and the Federal Aviation Administration is confident that it &#8220;is ready to get more than 360,000 flights to their destinations&#8221; for the Thanksgiving travel period. But Americans should be prepared for long lines and crowded terminals as the FAA expects the busiest Thanksgiving travel week since 2010.
Tuesday, November 25, will be the busiest travel day before Thanksgiving, with 52,185 forecasted flights, the FAA <a href="https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/faa-expects-busiest-thanksgiving-travel-period-15-years">said</a> on Friday. Sunday, November 30, will be the busiest travel day after the holiday, with 51,268 forecasted flights. Some storm systems could also affect air travel. Forecasts call for rain in the Northeast, while wind and rain could move into the Great Lakes region and Seattle around Thanksgiving Day, according to the FAA.
A total of 82 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from their homes for the Thanksgiving holiday, which is an increase of 1.6 million travelers compared to last Thanksgiving, according to <a href="https://newsroom.aaa.com/2025/11/aaa-thanksgiving-travel-forecast-2025/">AAA</a>. Seventy-three million Americans are expected to travel by car for the holiday, while six million Americans are expected to travel by air.
The busy travel week comes as the airline industry seeks to get back into a normal rhythm after the record-breaking 43-day government shutdown caused numerous disruptions. On Monday, the FAA lifted its temporary flight restrictions that affected 40 of the busiest airports in the country, and normal operations resumed.
“Thanks to the dedication of our air traffic controllers and every FAA employee, we are ready for the holiday rush and take pride in helping travelers reach their friends and families during this important time of year,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. “I am deeply grateful to our entire FAA team. Even through a period of record-high traffic, their unwavering commitment keeps the system running safely.”
<div id="attachment_1004229" style="width: 930px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1004229" class="wp-image-1004229 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Untitled-design-2025-11-21T134817.108-920x576.jpg" alt="" width="920" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Untitled-design-2025-11-21T134817.108-920x576.jpg 920w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Untitled-design-2025-11-21T134817.108-300x188.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Untitled-design-2025-11-21T134817.108-768x481.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Untitled-design-2025-11-21T134817.108.jpg 1078w" sizes=" (max-width: 920px) 100vw, 920px" />FAA</div>
The government shutdown resulted in an air traffic controller shortage as many controllers called in sick to either stay home or look for other work as they missed paychecks. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Thursday that 776 air traffic controllers and technicians who remained on the job and showed up to work every day during the government shutdown received $10,000 bonus checks.
&#8220;President Trump wanted to give air traffic controllers and technicians BONUSES for showing up to work EVERY DAY during the government shutdown… and TODAY IS THE DAY!&#8221; Duffy wrote. &#8220;776 patriotic men and women will get $10K checks, just in time for Christmas. God bless the patriots of our skies!&#8221;
The FAA also kicked off a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/no-more-pajamas-folks-is-it-time-to-dress-to-impress-on-planes-again">new campaign</a> on airport civility this week ahead of the holiday travel season.
“People dress up like they’re going to bed when they fly,” Duffy said. “We want to push people as we come into a really busy travel season, help people out, be in a good mood, dress up.”

Airport

Flying For The Holidays? Prepare For The Busiest Thanksgiving Travel Week In 15 Years.

Air Travel

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

General

Thanksgiving

Vice President JD Vance talked with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for around an hour on Friday as the two leaders discussed President Donald Trump&#8217;s newly crafted <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-admin-crafts-28-point-plan-to-end-war-in-ukraine">28-point plan</a> to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.
The call, which also included U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, marked the first time that Zelensky spoke directly with the White House since Trump unveiled his new peace plan. While he did not address any specifics of the plan, Zelensky suggested that his country is ready to get to work on negotiations.
&#8220;We managed to cover a lot of details of the American side’s proposals for ending the war, and we’re working to make the path forward dignified and truly effective for achieving a lasting peace,&#8221; Zelensky said. &#8220;I’m grateful for the attention and willingness to work together with us and our partners. We agreed to work together with the U.S. and Europe at the level of national security advisors to make the path to peace truly doable.&#8221;
&#8220;Ukraine has always respected and continues to respect U.S. President Donald Trump’s desire to put an end to the bloodshed, and we view every realistic proposal positively,&#8221; Zelensky added. &#8220;We agreed to maintain constant contact, and our teams are ready to work 24/7. Thank you!&#8221;
Under the reported details of Trump&#8217;s plan, Ukraine would be forced to give up Crimea, Luhansk, and Donetsk, and parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, Axios <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/21/zelensky-vance-trump-peace-plan">reported</a>. Ukraine would also commit to never joining NATO and limiting its standing military in exchange for security guarantees from the United States. Both Russia and Ukraine would receive amnesty for crimes they committed during the war, and all military and civilian prisoners would be returned to their respective sides.
After details of the plan were reported, multiple European leaders committed to pursuing a peace plan that guarantees Ukraine&#8217;s sovereignty.
&#8220;Ukraine can count on us,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/bundeskanzler/status/1991874364674035882">said</a> German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. &#8220;Together with [French President Emmanuel Macron] and [British Prime Minister Keir Starmer], I reaffirmed our full support to [Zelensky]. We will coordinate closely with Europe and the US, whose commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty we welcome. The contact line must remain the basis for any talks.&#8221;
The Russia-Ukraine plan mirrors President Trump&#8217;s ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas that is monitored by Trump&#8217;s Peace Council. A senior U.S. official <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-admin-quietly-working-on-a-russia-ukraine-peace-plan-that-mirrors-gaza-deal?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Admin+%E2%80%98Quietly+Working%E2%80%99+On+A+Russia-Ukraine+Peace+Plan+That+Mirrors+Gaza+Deal">told</a> The Daily Wire on Thursday that Trump&#8217;s special envoy Steve Witkoff has been &#8220;quietly working&#8221; on the Russia-Ukraine plan for a month, &#8220;receiving input from both the Ukrainians and the Russians on what terms are acceptable to them to end the war.&#8221;
The call between Vance and Zelensky comes following months of talks between the Trump administration, Russia, and Ukraine, with little progress being made. In February, Trump, Vance, and Zelensky got into a heated back-and-forth in the Oval Office, part of which included the vice president <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-and-vance-clash-with-zelensky-in-fiery-white-house-meeting">scolding</a> Zelensky for attacking &#8220;the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country.&#8221;
The war is nearing the four-year mark, and President Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, who has ramped up his aggression in recent months. Earlier this week, a Russian missile and drone <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy0yere4k0zo">attack</a> in Ternopil, Ukraine, killed 26 people, including three children, according to Ukrainian officials.

JD Vance/Volodymyr Zelensky

Zelensky Suggests Ukraine Is Ready To Move On Trump’s 28-Point Plan After Talks With Vance

JD Vance

Russia

Ukraine

Ukraine-Russia War

Vladimir Putin

Volodymyr Zelensky

Former President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, were ordered to appear before Congress for depositions on the Jeffrey Epstein probe next month after the two powerful Democrats attempted to avoid the House Oversight Committee&#8217;s grilling.
The Clintons&#8217; lawyer wrote a letter to the House Oversight Committee on November 3 in an attempt to get the former president and former Secretary of State out of testifying in person. The Clintons&#8217; attorney asked if they could simply submit “a written proffer of what little information” they have on Epstein. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) <a href="https://x.com/RepJamesComer/status/1991877484208595253">denied</a> that request on Friday and ordered the Clintons to appear for their depositions on December 17 and 18.
&#8220;As your letter indicates, both President Clinton and Secretary Clinton possess information relevant to the Committee&#8217;s investigation,&#8221; Comer wrote to the Clintons&#8217; attorney, David Kendall.
&#8220;Additionally, your suggestion that your clients’ testimony would not be relevant to the stated purposes of the Committee’s investigation because the events in question took place outside of the Clintons’ respective official duties, misses the Committee’s point,&#8221; Comer added. &#8220;It is precisely the fact President Clinton and Secretary Clinton each maintained relationships with Mr. Epstein and Ms. [Ghislaine] Maxwell in their personal capacities as private citizens that is of interest to the Committee.&#8221;
Former President Clinton is scheduled to appear before the committee at 10:00 a.m. on December 17, while the former first lady is set to appear at 10:00 a.m. on December 18.
A House Oversight panel <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-panel-votes-to-subpoena-epstein-files-clintons-ex-law-enforcement-leaders">voted</a> in July to subpoena the Clintons, along with former law enforcement leaders and more files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Three Republicans joined with five Democrats in the vote to approve the subpoenas. Comer then issued the subpoenas for the Clintons on August 5.
Right now, DailyWire+ annual memberships are fifty percent off during our Black Friday sale. Join now at <a href="http://dailywire.com/blackfriday" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dailywire.com/blackfriday</a>.
The Clintons were ordered to appear for their depositions after President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-unleashes-doj-to-investigate-epsteins-democrat-friends">directed</a> the Justice Department to investigate former President Clinton over his ties to Epstein. Attorney General Pam Bondi <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/bondi-says-new-info-warrants-more-epstein-investigations-as-doj-sets-sights-on-his-dem-pals?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Bondi+Says+%E2%80%98New+Info%E2%80%99+Warrants+More+Epstein+Investigations+As+DOJ+Sets+Sights+On+His+Dem+Pals">said</a> on Wednesday that &#8220;new information&#8221; warrants further investigations into Epstein and those connected to him after the Justice Department closed its investigation into Epstein earlier this year.
Trump also signed legislation earlier this week to release the remaining Epstein files after arguing that Democrats have focused on what he has called the Epstein &#8220;hoax&#8221; to deflect from other issues.
Bill Clinton traveled with Epstein and Maxwell multiple times, with flight records indicating that the former president was with Epstein on his infamous “Lolita Express,” the airplane Epstein is accused of using to sex traffic underage girls. The former president <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/bill-clinton-jeffrey-epstein/story?id=127629827">traveled</a> with the financier and his associate to numerous countries, including Bangkok, Brunei, Rwanda, Russia, and China.
Trump has suggested that Bill Clinton visited Epstein&#8217;s island in the Virgin Islands, but the former president has denied that he ever set foot on the island. In an email released by the House Oversight Committee earlier this month, Epstein wrote that Bill Clinton &#8220;was NEVER EVER there, never.&#8221;
There is no evidence that Hillary traveled with Epstein, and neither Bill nor Hillary has been accused of any wrongdoing related to Epstein&#8217;s sex crimes.
The Clintons&#8217; attorney stated in his November 3 letter that both Bill and Hillary &#8220;welcome legitimate oversight,&#8221; seeking to uncover the truth behind Epstein&#8217;s and Maxwell&#8217;s crimes. The attorney added that the Clintons &#8220;have little to contribute to that legitimate goal, all of which can be readily submitted on paper.&#8221;
Comer argued that the committee is &#8220;entitled to a fulsome examination&#8221; of the information that the Clintons possess on Epstein and &#8220;the ability to elicit the information in person and to ask relevant follow-up questions.&#8221;

Bill and Hillary Clinton

Congress Just Ordered The Clintons To Face Epstein Depositions. Here’s When They’ll Be Grilled.

Bill Clinton

Hillary Clinton

James Comer

Jeffrey Epstein

After years of getting caught up in controversies and pushing election conspiracy theories in Washington, D.C., California Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell wants to go back home full-time.
Swalwell appeared on Jimmy Kimmel&#8217;s late-night show on Thursday to announce that he&#8217;s running for California governor next year, joining a crowded field of Democrats gunning for the position. He announced the move as he faces a potential Justice Department <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/eric-swalwell-faces-doj-criminal-probe-over-mortgage-fraud-accusations">investigation</a> into allegations that he made false statements on loan documents for his $1.2 million house in Washington, D.C.
Kimmel set up Swalwell&#8217;s <a href="https://x.com/TheChiefNerd/status/1991824644022874171?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">big announcement</a> by asking the congressman what could be done to push back against President Donald Trump&#8217;s agenda.
&#8220;I&#8217;ll tell you what I&#8217;m going to do. I love California. It&#8217;s the greatest country in the world, greatest country in the world,&#8221; Swalwell said. &#8220;That&#8217;s why it pisses me off to see Californians running through the fields where they work from ICE agents or troops in our streets.&#8221;
&#8220;It&#8217;s horrifying,&#8221; Kimmel said.
Swalwell agreed, adding, &#8220;It&#8217;s awful to look at, and our state, this great state, needs a fighter and a protector — someone who will bring prices down, lift wages up.&#8221;
&#8220;We can say that we&#8217;re the fourth-largest economy in the world, and we are. I love to brag about that, but what does that mean if we can&#8217;t afford to live here?&#8221; Swalwell continued. &#8220;So I&#8217;ve been in these fights as a city councilmember &#8230; as a prosecutor in Oakland, and taking on the most corrupt president ever in the U.S. Congress, but I&#8217;m ready to bring this fight home. So, I came here tonight to tell you and your audience that I&#8217;m running to be the next governor of California.&#8221;
Right now, DailyWire+ annual memberships are fifty percent off during our Black Friday sale. Join now at <a href="http://dailywire.com/blackfriday" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dailywire.com/blackfriday</a>.
His announcement was met with a standing ovation from Kimmel&#8217;s audience. Swalwell also posted a <a href="https://x.com/ericswalwell/status/1991760527966851476">video</a> on social media announcing his gubernatorial bid. In the video, Swalwell focused on just two issues: fighting President Trump and making California a more affordable place to live.
Last week, Swalwell claimed that he is a target of political retribution from Trump after the president&#8217;s top housing official referred him to Attorney General Pam Bondi over alleged mortgage and tax fraud. The accusations stem from the Democrats&#8217; purchase of a $1.2 million home in the nation’s capital that he reportedly claimed as his primary residence, which would qualify him for millions of dollars’ worth of loans and refinancing, the New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/11/13/us-news/eric-swalwells-1-2-million-dc-home-target-of-doj-mortgage-fraud-criminal-referral/">reported</a>.
The Daily Wire reached out to Swalwell&#8217;s office for comment on his decision to run for governor.
Swalwell has been at the center of multiple controversies since first getting elected to Congress in 2012. The California congressman was a key figure in the Democratic Party who pushed the Trump-Russia collusion hoax during the president&#8217;s first term. Swalwell was later slammed for his relationship with a Chinese woman who is suspected of spying for the Chinese Communist Party.
Swalwell enters what is promising to be a competitive race for governor, as numerous Democrats hope to take over for Gavin Newsom, who is term-limited. He joins former Congresswoman Katie Porter, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and billionaire Tom Steyer in the Democratic primary. Former Fox News host Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco are running on the Republican side.

Eric Swalwell Wants To Get Out Of D.C. As Mortgage Fraud Scrutiny Intensifies

Jimmy Kimmel

Federal investigators on Thursday released additional images showing the moments leading up to the UPS plane crash in Louisville earlier this month that killed 14 people.
The National Transportation Safety Board released the images in its preliminary <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Documents/Prelimiary%20Report%20DCA26MA024.pdf">report</a> on the crash, saying that investigators found &#8220;evidence of fatigue cracks in addition to areas of overstress failure&#8221; on parts near the engine on the left wing. The photos show the McDonnell Douglas MD-11’s left engine erupting in flames and breaking away from the wing as the UPS aircraft begins its takeoff.
<div id="attachment_1003535" style="width: 720px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1003535" class="wp-image-1003535 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Untitled-design-2025-11-20T130820.318-710x576.jpg" alt="" width="710" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Untitled-design-2025-11-20T130820.318-710x576.jpg 710w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Untitled-design-2025-11-20T130820.318-300x243.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Untitled-design-2025-11-20T130820.318-768x623.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Untitled-design-2025-11-20T130820.318.jpg 986w" sizes=" (max-width: 710px) 100vw, 710px" />National Transportation Safety Board</div>
Federal investigators said that the plane never made it higher than 30 feet above the ground before it dropped back down in a fiery crash. The MD-11&#8217;s &#8220;left main landing gear impacted the roof of a UPS Supply Chain Solutions warehouse at the southern edge of the airport.&#8221; The plane then &#8220;impacted a storage yard and two additional buildings, including a petroleum recycling facility, and was mostly consumed by fire.&#8221;
<div id="attachment_1003541" style="width: 594px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1003541" class="wp-image-1003541 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Untitled-design-2025-11-20T131456.952-584x576.jpg" alt="" width="584" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Untitled-design-2025-11-20T131456.952-584x576.jpg 584w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Untitled-design-2025-11-20T131456.952-300x296.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Untitled-design-2025-11-20T131456.952-768x758.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Untitled-design-2025-11-20T131456.952.jpg 811w" sizes=" (max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px" />National Transportation Safety Board</div>
Eleven of the 14 people killed in the crash were customers or employees at the Grade A Auto Parts and Scrap Metal Recycling, which sits just south of the runways at Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport. The three others <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/unimaginable-tragedy-authorities-identify-the-14-people-killed-in-louisville-ups-plane-crash">killed</a> in the crash were crew members on board the MD-11. Twenty-three more people on the ground were injured.
The plane was filled with more than 50,000 gallons of fuel as it departed for a long trip to Hawaii. The crash caused secondary explosions at the auto parts and recycling center.
The MD-11 plane was 34 years old and had accumulated nearly 93,000 flight hours. The last time the left pylon aft mount — the part at the center of the investigation — was visually inspected was October 28, 2021. The UPS maintenance program calls for visual inspections of the part every 72 months, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. The pylon thrust links and pylon spherical bearings were lubricated just two weeks before the deadly crash, according to the preliminary report.
The MD-11 is one of the oldest planes still in use by shipping companies, such as UPS and FedEx. Both UPS and FedEx announced that they would ground their remaining MD-11s shortly after the crash in Louisville.
A more comprehensive analysis will follow Thursday’s 12-page preliminary report once the National Transportation Safety Board completes its investigation.
&#8220;We continue to grieve for the lives lost in the tragic accident involving Flight 2976,&#8221; UPS <a href="https://about.ups.com/us/en/newsroom/statements/ups-statement-on-aircraft-accident.html">said</a> on Thursday. &#8220;Before the FAA issued its Emergency Airworthiness Directive for all MD-11 operators, UPS proactively grounded its MD-11 fleet out of an abundance of caution. We appreciate the National Transportation Safety Board’s prompt release of preliminary findings and will fully support the investigation through its conclusion.&#8221;

UPS Cargo Plane Crashes In Louisville

Investigators Release More Photos Of UPS Plane Crash, Find ‘Evidence Of Fatigue Cracks’

Air and Space

Kentucky

Louisville

National transportation Safety Board

Plane Crash

For the past month, the Trump administration has been &#8220;quietly working&#8221; on a newly devised peace plan between Russia and Ukraine that forces both sides to make concessions, a senior U.S. official told The Daily Wire on Thursday.
Trump&#8217;s special envoy Steve Witkoff has spearheaded the latest effort to bring the war to an end, and President Donald Trump has given his support for the plan, according to the U.S. official.
&#8220;Special Envoy Witkoff has been quietly working on this plan for a month, receiving input from both the Ukrainians and the Russians on what terms are acceptable to them to end the war,&#8221; the official said.
Axios first <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/19/ukraine-peace-plan-trump-russia-witkoff">reported</a> on the plan on Tuesday, writing that the administration hopes to bring Russia and Ukraine to an agreement on a 28-point deal that was inspired by Trump&#8217;s 20-point Gaza peace proposal. Trump successfully got Israel and Hamas to agree to parts of his 20-point plan last month, but that ceasefire remains fragile.
Witkoff has reportedly discussed the plan extensively with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev. The Russian diplomat told Axios that he, Witkoff, and other Trump officials were in Miami for three days in late October. Dmitriev was optimistic about the talks, saying, &#8220;We feel the Russian position is really being heard.&#8221;
Right now, DailyWire+ annual memberships are fifty percent off during our Black Friday sale. Join now at <a href="http://dailywire.com/blackfriday" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dailywire.com/blackfriday</a>.
Axios <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/19/trump-ukraine-peace-plan-russia-donbas">reported</a> on Wednesday that the new Trump plan to end the war would require major concessions from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Ukraine would be asked to cede additional territory to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in exchange for U.S. security guarantees that would protect Ukraine and Europe from further Russian aggression, according to Axios, which cited &#8220;a U.S. official with direct knowledge.&#8221;
The Trump administration pushed back on the claim that Ukraine would be getting the raw end of the deal. A senior U.S. official told The Daily Wire that the peace plan would require both Russia and Ukraine to make concessions.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio <a href="https://x.com/marcorubio/status/1991297619964854460?s=20">said</a> on Wednesday that &#8220;durable peace will require both sides to agree to difficult but necessary concessions.&#8221; Rubio added that the administration is continuing &#8220;to develop a list of potential ideas for ending this war based on input from both sides of this conflict.&#8221;
The Daily Wire also reached out to the State Department for comment.
The war is nearing the four-year mark, and President Trump has so far been unable to move Putin toward a peace deal since coming back into office in January. Trump&#8217;s summit with Putin in August promised progress on a peace plan, but yielded no significant results. Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with Putin and imposed additional sanctions on Russian oil companies. A Treasury Department spokesman told <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-sanctions-on-russian-oil-are-starving-putins-war-machine?author=Tim+Pearce&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=Trump+Sanctions+On+Russian+Oil+Are+%E2%80%98Starving+Putin%E2%80%99s+War+Machine%E2%80%99">The Daily Wire</a> on Wednesday, &#8220;Russian oil is now selling at multi-year lows, starving Putin’s war machine.&#8221;
The war, which broke out while former President Joe Biden was in office, has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, according to estimates. Russia has recently ramped up its attacks on Ukraine, targeting cities with drone and missile strikes.
&#8220;President Trump has been clear since day one that he wants the war between Russia [and] Ukraine to end, and he has grown frustrated with both sides for their refusal to commit to a peace agreement,&#8221; White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement shared with The Daily Wire. &#8220;Nevertheless, the President and his team never gives up, and the United States has been working on a detailed and acceptable plan for both sides to stop the killing and create a durable, lasting peace.&#8221;

Donald Trump/Vladimir Putin/Volodymyr Zelensky

Trump Admin ‘Quietly Working’ On A Russia-Ukraine Peace Plan That Mirrors Gaza Deal

Trump Admin 'Quietly Working' On New Russia-Ukraine Peace Plan That Mirrors Gaza Deal

Steve Witkoff

The Trump administration did a victory lap on Wednesday as new data shows America&#8217;s trade deficit with foreign countries plummeting, but multiple economists told The Daily Wire that reducing the trade deficit does nothing to move the U.S. economy in the right direction.
A new report from the Commerce Department showed that the U.S. trade deficit decreased by 24% in August as the president&#8217;s tariffs hit countries around the globe. The White House <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1991158360280826034">highlighted</a> the new trade data and said it is &#8220;more proof that President Trump’s trade and economic agenda continues to pay off for the American people.&#8221;
&#8220;As the President’s historic trade deals and pro-growth policies continue to take effect and trillions in investments to make and hire in America continue to materialize, Americans can rest assured that the best is yet to come,&#8221; White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement shared with The Daily Wire.
A trade deficit occurs when a country&#8217;s imports — the products it brings into the country from other nations — exceed its exports — what it ships to other countries to be sold in their markets. Trump has <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/regulating-imports-with-a-reciprocal-tariff-to-rectify-trade-practices-that-contribute-to-large-and-persistent-annual-united-states-goods-trade-deficits/">argued</a> that the United States has been unfairly treated by its trading partners, partially due to &#8220;large and persistent annual U.S. goods trade deficits.&#8221;
The data, released by the Commerce Department&#8217;s Bureau of Economic Analysis and Census Bureau, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/us-trade-deficit-narrows-sharply-august-imports-fall-2025-11-19/">shows</a> that as Trump&#8217;s tariffs took hold, U.S. imports decreased 5.1%, while exports remained flat. For comparison, U.S. imports rose in July while many of the president&#8217;s tariffs were still in limbo, suggesting that American companies were stocking up on products before the tariffs went into effect. Now, companies are importing fewer products and machinery as they seek to avoid paying high tariffs for their goods, which could be a concerning sign about the future of the U.S. economy, according to Colin Grabow, associate director of the Center for Trade Policy Studies at the libertarian Cato Institute.
&#8220;It was reported that the decline in the trade deficit was more specifically due to U.S. firms reducing their purchases of machinery, industrial supplies, pharmaceutical ingredients, and telecom equipment, and this really speaks to the misplaced obsession some people have with trying to reduce imports or thinking that reduction is a good thing,&#8221; Grabow said. &#8220;These are all imports used in the production of stuff. We take foreign machinery and we put it in American factories and we make stuff. Well, if we&#8217;re importing less of that, it tells me we&#8217;re going to be producing less stuff.&#8221;
Right now, DailyWire+ annual memberships are fifty percent off during our Black Friday sale. Join now at <a class="c-link" href="http://dailywire.com/blackfriday" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://dailywire.com/blackfriday" data-sk="tooltip_parent">dailywire.com/blackfriday</a>.
E.J. Antoni, the chief economist at the Heritage Foundation, said that while a deficit is usually a negative term when talking about money, a trade deficit can often be a good thing. Antoni argued that trade deficits driven by foreign investments are positive for the United States and have been the norm for most of American history.
&#8220;From even before our nation was founded, before the Revolutionary War all the way through the Gilded Age in the late 19th century, we ran a trade deficit in every single year except for seven years. And of those seven years, in four of them we were at war with Great Britain, so obviously they didn&#8217;t want to trade with us very much, and the other three were banking panics when Americans were basically so poor they couldn&#8217;t afford anything from abroad.&#8221;
Antoni explained that it&#8217;s more important for Americans to look at how and why the trade deficit is shifting, saying it&#8217;s better for a trade deficit to be driven up by foreign investments than for the deficit to come down because the United States sold off revenue-generating assets.
&#8220;When it comes to international trade, much of the assessment of whether things are good or bad for Americans comes down to not just the numbers themselves, but why the numbers are moving in one direction or another,&#8221; Antoni said. &#8220;Again, a trade deficit is not in and of itself bad. It&#8217;s a complete misnomer.&#8221;
Dr. Wayne Winegarden, senior fellow in economics at the free-market Pacific Research Institute, told The Daily Wire that he was confused by why the Trump administration was celebrating a decrease in the trade deficit.
&#8220;When we&#8217;re saying the trade deficit is smaller, we&#8217;re simultaneously saying the capital surplus is smaller.&#8221; Winegarden said.
&#8220;Over the last three months, exports have basically stagnated, we&#8217;re not selling any more overseas,&#8221; he added. &#8220;Imports are down, meaning consumers have less access to affordable goods and manufacturers have less access to the materials they need, so I&#8217;m trying to figure out how that&#8217;s a good thing.&#8221;

Photo of Trump: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images / Illustrated by The Daily Wire

America’s Trade Deficit Is Dropping Thanks To Trump’s Tariffs. Will That Improve The Economy?

Economics

Economy

trade

Menu

Zach Jewell