The most remarkable thing about President Donald Trump’s whirlwind first five weeks back in office has not been the pace at which his administration has been making major changes, but rather that it has done so without spending much political capital, or, in laymen’s terms, losing much support.

Trump’s slew of executive orders, covering everything from establishing only two genders, to freezing federal spending, cutting energy regulations and much more have been fast and furious.

The pace of change has left Democrats and their media allies flatfooted and confused, punching at quickly changing shadows, as when they laughably pointed to a fired national parks employee who had the only keys to the restroom as evidence of chaos. It’s actually just evidence of incompetence.

But it isn’t just politicians and pundits whose heads are spinning as Trump sprints his way through his first 100 days. The American people, too, especially those not locked into the news cycle like a homing missile, are also at risk of confusion, which is why radical transparency has been the administration’s most effective tool.

Not only do the American people hear from Trump almost every day, he almost always takes questions, and, unlike his predecessor, he can effectively answer them.

When concern was growing that Elon Musk had too much independent authority to fire federal workers and cut spending, Trump made crystal clear, with the billionaire standing next to him, that Musk answers to the president, and his position is advisory.

As Democrats attempt to paint Trump as a backwards troglodyte for seeking to shut down the Department of Education, he has been on camera day in and day out, explaining how broken our schools are right now, and why ending the agency will help make them better.

As for his foreign policy, including a warmer relationship with Israel and a chillier one with Ukraine, Trump has once again been out in front, the explainer in chief. And after four years of a president who basically just said, ‘Trust us, Tony Blinken and Jake Sullivan went to great schools,’ it is refreshing.

Trump’s outstanding customer relations this time around remind me of my days working as a mover in New York City, because even if people are moving into their dream house, or a bigger apartment, it’s still a day filled with enormous change, and the possibility of mishaps.

As long as this radical transparency continues, the Trump administration will have a long runway of good will to land its policies and transform America.

Watching the transformation of the federal government, hoping that it helps and that nothing breaks, is a bit like watching all your earthly belongings roll away in a box truck driven by a guy you met three hours ago.

The best thing that the foreman of a moving crew can do to quell the nerves of jumpy customers, and I have seen it in action a thousand times, is to explain, upon arrival, in detail, exactly what is going to happen, and then inform them, in a timely manner, as those things do, indeed, occur.

Even if a customer’s concern seems overly paranoid, the best thing to do is walk them through exactly how you will protect their prized piece of art or antique chair.

This explains why in the coming days Trump has vowed to visit Fort Knox, complete with cameras, to assure Americans that its fabled gold reserve is still there. Yet more radical transparency.

In a healthy society, it would be absurd to think the government could be lying about the gold, but during COVID alone the feds lied to us to us over and over about social distancing and masks and don’t touch doorknobs. So, yeah, a lot of Americans are rightfully distrustful.

Trump is riding higher in the polls than anybody could have anticipated in the midst of our recent heated election with all its recriminations and anger, and while this is owing in part to the actions he is taking, it is really his ability to explain them that is keeping voters on the farm.

There are few things that have gone down the tubes faster in our society than customer service. Who among us has not screamed the words ‘speak with a representative!’ into our phone only to have the line go dead? 

So far, like a good foreman of a moving company, Trump has done everything he can to guide Americans through his vast and lofty plans and actions. As long as this radical transparency continues, the Trump administration will have a long runway of good will to land its policies and transform America.

Hunter Schafer, a transgender actor and star of the HBO series ‘Euphoria,’ revealed that her new passport was issued with a male gender marker because of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump.

Schafer, 26, posted a video on social media detailing how her passport had been stolen while she was filming in Spain. After receiving an emergency passport, she later had to apply for a new, permanent one in Los Angeles. Schafer, who transitioned to female when she was a teenager, said her original passport identified her as female, but the new one she received marked her as male.

Schafer said she wasn’t posting the video to ‘create drama,’ ‘fearmonger’ or ‘receive consolation,’ but rather because she thought it was worth noting ‘the reality of the situation and that it is actually happening.’

‘Trans people are beautiful. We are never going to stop existing. I’m never gonna stop being trans,’ she said in the video. ‘A letter and a passport can’t change that. And f— this administration.’

Trump signed the executive order, ‘Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,’ on his first day in office. The order mandates the federal government to recognize only two sexes — male and female — based on immutable biological characteristics, which must be reflected on official documents, like passports.

The State Department, responsible for passports, is no longer issuing passports with the ‘X’ marker that’s been available since 2021 and is not honoring requests to change gender markers between ‘M’ and ‘F.’

Schafer acknowledged the executive order in her TikTok video: ‘Because our president, you know, is a lot of talk, I was like, ‘I’ll believe it when I see it.’ And, today, I saw it,’ Schafer said, holding up her new passport page with the ‘M’ marker. 

The 26-year-old said she has had female gender markers on her license and passport since she was a teenager, though she noted that she did not have her birth certificate amended.

‘It doesn’t really change anything about me or my transness. However, it does make my life a little harder,’ Schafer said in the video, saying she has to travel for the first time with the new passport next week.

‘Trans people are beautiful. We are never going to stop existing. I’m never going to stop being trans. A letter and a passport can’t change that,’ she concluded.

Seven people represented by the American Civil Liberties Union have already filed a lawsuit claiming the policy violates privacy and First Amendment rights. 

The ACLU has said it has been contacted by more than 1,500 transgender people or family members, ‘many with passport applications suspended or pending, who are concerned about being able to get passports that accurately reflect their identity.’

Fox News Digital’s Louis Casiano and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

President Donald Trump is set to have another busy week meeting with foreign leaders in the nation’s capital as administration leaders continue working out a potential peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. 

Trump will meet with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron in his fifth week back in the Oval Office, national security advisor Mike Waltz said on Fox News’ ‘America Reports.’ The announcement follows Macron calling for an emergency meeting of world leaders after the Trump administration excluded Europe from sitting at the negotiating table to settle the war between Ukraine and Russia.

‘Just a few months ago, everyone was talking about this war as though it would never end,’ Waltz said on ‘America Reports’ after confirming Starmer and Macron will visit Washington, D.C. ‘In just a very short amount of time, President Trump has us, everyone – the Ukrainians, the Russians, the Europeans – talking about it now and debating.… Only President Trump could drive that shift in conversation. And we have to acknowledge that that’s happened.’

Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff met in Riyadh last week with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and President Vladimir Putin’s foreign affairs advisor Yuri Ushakov to hash out ways to end the conflict. Ukraine was absent from the negotiations in Saudi Arabia. 

Ukraine’s lack of involvement sparked President Vlodomyr Zelenskyy to double down on the stance that his nation will not accept a peace deal unless they are a part of the negotiation process. 

Zelenskyy told reporters Tuesday in Turkey that ‘nobody decides anything behind our back,’ after stressing in recent days that Kyiv will not agree to a peace negotiation without Ukraine’s input.

Trump amplified his rhetoric against Zelenskyy last week, including arguing Zelenskyy is a poor negotiator and that he’s ‘sick of it.’ 

‘I’ve been watching this man for years now as his cities get demolished, as his people get killed, as his soldiers get decimated,’ Trump told Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade last week. ‘I’ve been watching him negotiate with no cards. He has no cards, and you get sick of it,’ he continued. ‘You just get sick of it, and I’ve had it.’

‘I get tired of listening to it,’ Trump responded. ‘I’ve seen it enough, and then he complains that he’s not at a meeting that we’re having with Saudi Arabia trying to intermediate peace. Well, he’s been at meetings for three years with a… president who didn’t know what the hell he was doing. He’s been at the meetings for three years and nothing got done, so I don’t think he’s very important to be at meetings, to be honest with you. He’s been there for three years. He’s he makes it very hard to make deals.’

Trump added on Friday that Macron and Starmer ‘haven’t done anything’ since 2022 to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. 

Trump’s recent remarks on Zelenskyy have apparently alarmed European leaders who have backed Ukraine throughout the war. Macron previewed in remarks on Thursday that he will reportedly take a tough tone with Trump during their meeting. 

‘Trump, I know him. I respect him and I believe he respects me,’ Macron, who will meet with Trump on Monday, said during a question-and-answer session on social media. ‘I will tell him: deep down you cannot be weak in the face of President (Vladimir Putin). It’s not you, it’s not what you’re made of, and it’s not in your interests.’

Starmer, who is slated to meet with Trump on Thursday, said on Sunday in Scotland that there cannot be peace talks without Ukraine’s input. 

‘Nobody wants the bloodshed to continue. Nobody, least of all the Ukrainians,’ he said Sunday, according to Reuters. 

‘But after everything that they have suffered, after everything that they have fought for, there could be no discussion about Ukraine without Ukraine, and the people of Ukraine must have a long-term secure future.’ 

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt spoke to members of the media on Saturday following CPAC, saying a peace deal could be reached as soon as this week. 

‘The president, his team are very much focused on continuing negotiations with both sides of this war to end the conflict, and the president is very confident we can get it done this week,’ she said. 

Fox News Digital’s Bailee Hill, Morgan Phillips and Diana Stancy contributed to this report. 

President Donald Trump celebrated on Sunday after German conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz claimed victory in a national election, ousting Social Democrat incumbent Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

‘LOOKS LIKE THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY IN GERMANY HAS WON THE VERY BIG AND HIGHLY ANTICIPATED ELECTION,’ Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. ‘MUCH LIKE THE USA, THE PEOPLE OF GERMANY GOT TIRED OF THE NO COMMON SENSE AGENDA, ESPECIALLY ON ENERGY AND IMMIGRATION, THAT HAS PREVAILED FOR SO MANY YEARS.

‘THIS IS A GREAT DAY FOR GERMANY, AND FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF A GENTLEMAN NAMED DONALD J. TRUMP,’ he added. ‘CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL — MANY MORE VICTORIES TO FOLLOW!!!’

Germany’s center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) won Sunday’s national election, with the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) finishing a strong second, according to exit polls.

The snap election came as the European nation grapples with illegal immigration and a souring economy. CDU leader Merz is expected to take a harder line than Scholz on immigration, though not as much as AfD supporters have called for.

Merz, whose party got about 29% of the vote, must form a coalition with one or more of the other parties, but has said he will not do so with AfD.

Merz has said he will execute a 15-point plan to tackle immigration, including tightening the borders and deporting rejected asylum seekers. AfD wants to deport migrants en masse.

While the AfD may be frozen out of the incoming coalition, it doubled its vote total from the last election.

Endorsed by Trump and Elon Musk, and led by Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, the party believes it has built momentum for the next election, expected in 2029.

President Donald Trump’s envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, said Sunday that he would aim to negotiate an ‘extension’ of Phase One of the Israel-Hamas hostage release and ceasefire deal when he returns to the region this week. 

‘We have to get an extension of Phase One. And, so I’ll be going into the region this week, probably Wednesday, to negotiate that,’ Witkoff said during an appearance on CNN’s ‘State of the Union.’ ‘And we’re hoping you have the proper time to finish off to begin Phase Two and finish it off and get more hostages released. And move this – move the discussion forward.’ 

Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, a close confidante of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reportedly met with Witkoff in Washington, D.C., last week. 

In regard to the meeting, CNN’s Jake Tapper asked Witkoff if he believes Netanyahu ‘wants to move forward with the ceasefire, or does he want to resume the war to try to eliminate Hamas?’

Witkoff said he believes the prime minister ‘is well-motivated’ and wants to see ‘the hostages released,’ as well ‘to protect the state of Israel.’ 

‘And so he’s got a red line,’ Witkoff said. ‘And he said what the red line is, and that is that Hamas cannot be involved in a governing body when this thing is resolved.’ 

‘They can’t be any part of governance in Gaza,’ the U.S. envoy said of Hamas. ‘And, you know, as to existing, I’d leave that – that detail to the prime minister.’ 

In another Sunday show appearance on CBS’ ‘Face the Nation,’ Witkoff said he would arrive ‘probably Wednesday evening’ in the Middle East and would visit various countries, including Qatar, Egypt, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. He added that the last remaining living American hostage, Edan Alexander, remains a top priority in negotiations.

‘He’s front and center for us,’ Witkoff said. ‘I know his parents. We talk all the time. He’s critical. It’s one of President Trump’s most important objectives is to get all Americans home. And we’re going to be successful in getting Edan home, I believe.’ 

According to the May 27 protocol agreement, Witkoff explained that Phase Two involves both ‘a permanent ceasefire, a cessation of all violence,’ as well as ‘the fact that Hamas cannot be allowed to come back into the government’ in Gaza. 

‘And I think the way you square that circle is that Hamas has to go. They’ve got to leave,’ Witkoff said, adding, ‘I would say physically, that’s correct.’ The envoy said he was not at liberty to say which countries might take in people from Gaza during ongoing negotiations, but stressed that Gaza would not be a safe living environment for another 15 to 20 years following the war and requires an extension reconstruction plan.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office announced Saturday night that ‘in light of Hamas’s repeated violations, including the ceremonies that humiliate our hostages and the cynical exploitation of our hostages for propaganda purposes, it has been decided to delay the release of terrorists that was planned for yesterday until the release of the next hostages has been assured, and without the humiliating ceremonies.’ 

In a video message Friday, Netanyahu condemned how Hamas ‘brutally murdered’ two young Israeli boys, whose bodies were initially returned to Israel without the remains of their mother, Shiri Bibas. In what Netanyahu decried as a ‘brazen violation of their agreement,’ Hamas initially handed over the wrong body for Bibas, whose actual remains were later returned and identified Saturday following an intense standoff with the terrorist group. 

Hamas handed over another six Israelis on Saturday in the latest scheduled release of living hostages.

President Donald Trump announced that Dan Bongino will serve as the next deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

‘Great news for Law Enforcement and American Justice,’ Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on Sunday night. ‘Dan Bongino, a man of incredible love and passion for our Country, has just been named the next DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE FBI, by the man who will be the best ever Director, Kash Patel.’

The president said Bongino has a Master’s Degree in Psychology from the City University of New York and an MBA from Penn State.

‘He was a member of the New York Police Department (New York’s Finest!), a highly respected Special Agent with the United States Secret Service, and is now one of the most successful Podcasters in the Country, something he is willing and prepared to give up in order to serve,’ Trump wrote. ‘Working with our great new United States Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and Director Patel, Fairness, Justice, Law and Order will be brought back to America, and quickly. Congratulations Dan!

‘Another aspect of the life of Dan Bongino that I think is very important. He has a great wife, Paula, and two wonderful daughters who truly love their dad,’ Trump later wrote. ‘What an incredible job Dan will do!!!’

Bongino is also a former Fox News host.

Shortly after the announcement, Bongino responded on X, saying, ‘Thank you Mr. President, Attorney General Bondi, and Director Patel.’

Patel was sworn in to serve as the ninth FBI director on Friday, after a narrow senate vote of 51-49.

Patel, a vociferous opponent of the investigations into Trump and one who served at the forefront of Trump’s 2020 election fraud claims, vowed during his confirmation hearing last month that he would not engage in political retribution against agents who worked on the classified documents case against Trump and other politically sensitive matters.

But his confirmation comes at a time when the FBI’s activities, leadership and personnel decisions are being closely scrutinized for signs of politicization or retaliation.

Patel held a number of national security roles during Trump’s first administration — chief of staff to acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller, senior advisor to the acting director of national intelligence and National Security Council official.