At a White House ceremony in the Rose Garden on Tuesday on what would have been her husband’s 32nd birthday, Erika Kirk accepted the Presidential Medal of Freedom on behalf of Charlie Kirk and delivered a powerful, deeply personal tribute to his life and legacy.

‘Thank you, Mr. President, for honoring my husband in such a profound way,’ she began. ‘Charlie always admired your commitment to freedom.’

She offered thanks to the first lady, the vice president, and friends and family ‘watching from all around the world,’ along with Turning Point USA staff and chapters nationwide. ‘You are the heartbeat of this future and of this movement,’ she said. ‘Everything Charlie built lives through you.’

Erika added that the Presidential Medal of Freedom itself is rooted in America’s Founding. ‘The very existence of the Presidential Medal of Freedom reminds us that the national interest of the United States has always been freedom,’ she said.

‘Our founders etched it into the preamble of our Constitution, and those words are not relics on parchment. They are a living covenant. The blessings of liberty are not man’s invention. They are God’s endowment.’

She recalled how Charlie wrote about freedom often. ‘He believed that liberty was both a right and a responsibility. And he used to say that freedom is the ability to do what is right without fear. And that’s how he lived,’ Erika said.

‘His name, Charles, literally means ‘free man.’ And that’s exactly who my husband was,’ she continued. ‘From the time I met him, sitting across from him being interviewed about politics, philosophy and theology, I saw the fire in his soul. There was this divine restlessness within him that came from knowing God placed him on this earth to protect something very sacred. He never stopped fighting for people to experience freedom.’

Erika recalled Charlie often saying that ‘without God, freedom becomes chaos’ and that liberty can only survive ‘when anchored to truth.’ She remembered him telling an audience: ‘The opposite of liberty isn’t law. It’s captivity. And the freest people in the world are those whose hearts belong to Christ.’

Looking back at his years building Turning Point USA, she said, ‘While he was building an organization, he was also building a movement: one that called people back to God, back to truth, and a movement that was filled with courage.’

She described him as a man who loved life’s simplest pleasures: quiet walks, shelves full of books and Saturday mornings in the sun with decaf coffee and his phone turned off for the Sabbath. His birthday tradition, she recalled, was mint chocolate chip ice cream, enjoyed only on July 4 and his birthday.

‘Last year, his one birthday wish was to see the Oregon Ducks play Ohio State — and they won,’ she said. ‘Mr. President, I can say with confidence that you have given him the best birthday gift he could ever have.’

Turning to his final moments, Erika shared: ‘It was written across his chest in those final moments on one of his simple T-shirts that always carried a message — this one bearing a single word: freedom. That was the banner over his life.’

She said her husband never told anyone what to say but always encouraged them ‘to think outside of traditional political labels, anchored in wisdom and truth.’

‘Charlie wasn’t content to simply admire freedom. He wanted to multiply it,’ Erika said. ‘He wanted young people to taste it, understand it and defend it. He wanted them to see that liberty isn’t selfish indulgence — it’s self-governance under God.’

Every day, she recalled, he lived with fearless conviction. ‘He didn’t fear being slandered. He didn’t fear losing friends. He stood for truth and stood for freedom. Everything else was just noise to him. And it’s because his confidence in Christ was absolute.’

Erika said Charlie lived ‘only 31 short years on this side of heaven,’ but filled every day with purpose. ‘He fought for truth when it was unpopular. He stood for God when it was costly. He prayed for his enemies. He loved people when it was inconvenient. He ran his race with endurance, and he kept the faith. And now he wears the crown of a righteous martyr.’

She told the audience, ‘Heaven gained what earth could no longer contain — a free man made fully free. To all watching, this is not a ceremony. This is a commissioning. I want you to be the embodiment of this medal. I want you to free yourself from fear. I want you to stand courageously in the truth. And remember that while freedom is inherited in this country, each of us must be intentional stewards of it.’

Before closing, Erika shared her daughter Gigi’s birthday message: ‘Happy birthday, daddy. I want to give you a stuffed animal. I want you to eat a cupcake with ice cream. And I want you to go have a birthday surprise. I love you.’

‘I know that you’re celebrating in heaven today, but gosh, I miss you,’ she said through tears. ‘We miss you and we love you. And we promise we’ll make you proud. Charlie’s life was proof that freedom is not a theory. It’s a testimony. He showed us that liberty begins not in the halls of power, but in the heart of a man surrendered to God.’

She ended with a final tribute: ‘To live free is the greatest gift, but to die free is the greatest victory. Happy birthday, Charlie. Happy freedom day.’

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., and Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., are pressing Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to investigate the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), claiming that it may be funded or directed by Hamas or other terrorist groups.

CAIR describes itself as a Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization founded in 1994 with chapters across the U.S.

The request comes as President Donald Trump led a ceasefire in Gaza between Hamas and Israel.

Stefanik and Cotton allege CAIR’s historic ties, public rhetoric and activism raise questions about whether the group’s support for Hamas amounts to material support for terrorism.

The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, which enforces U.S. sanctions on terrorist groups and their affiliates, has the authority to investigate whether CAIR’s activities violate federal law, the lawmakers said.

CAIR has long denied accusations of supporting Hamas, saying it ‘does not support any foreign organization or government’ and calling such claims ‘false and Islamophobic,’ according to a statement on its website. The group says its mission is to advocate for Muslim civil rights in the U.S.

Stefanik chairs the House Republican Conference, and Cotton sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Both have pressed for stricter enforcement of anti-terror finance laws in past oversight efforts.

In July, Stefanik criticized the City University of New York for hiring a former CAIR employee. She called the decision unacceptable to New York taxpayers.

She and Cotton say a Treasury probe would ensure no U.S. assets are used to advance the objectives of Hamas.

‘We urge the department to immediately investigate whether CAIR maintains financial links to Hamas that violate U.S. sanctions,’ they wrote.

CAIR did not immediately respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., is introducing legislation this week that would fully ban coverage of abortion and gender transition care for minors within the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Fox News Digital has learned.

While existing law prohibits the use of federal funds to pay for elective abortions under the Hyde Amendment, many plans on the ACA exchanges still offer abortion coverage via various state-level loopholes and separate bill schemes. Hawley’s legislation would expressly state that no ACA healthcare plan can cover an abortion procedure, except in cases of rape, incest or a threat to the life of the mother.

The legislation would similarly ban plans from offering coverage for gender transition care for minors, both in the form of drugs or procedures.

‘It’s time to ban abortion and gender transitions for minors on the healthcare exchanges,’ Hawley said in a statement to Fox News Digital. ‘No more loopholes.’

The legislative push comes as the Senate is already set to be focused on the ACA in the coming weeks, with a deadline for extending Obamacare subsidies looming with the Nov. 1 open enrollment date.

Democrats are already raising their voices about pushing through an extension, but Senate Republicans have said they’re open to negotiating a deal on the subsidies — with reforms — only after the government reopens.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and his fellow Democrats have blocked Republican attempts to end the government shutdown eight times since Oct. 1. Schumer argues Republicans must come to the table with concessions, while Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., says the opposition’s demands are unreasonable.

‘Democrats like to whine that Republicans aren’t negotiating, but negotiation, Mr. President, is what you do when each side has a list of demands and you need to meet in the middle,’ Thune said on the Senate floor Tuesday. ‘Republicans, as I and a lot of other people pointed out, haven’t put forward any demands. Only Democrats have made demands. And by the way, very expensive demands.’

Republicans say Democrats are demanding that the Senate undo a total of $1.5 trillion in spending cuts from the ‘big, beautiful bill’ and claw back funding for NPR and PBS to give, in part, to illegal immigrants.

If the shutdown extends past the Nov. 1 deadline, those one ACA coverage plans could see their premiums skyrocket. It would also make this year’s shutdown the longest in American history, eclipsing the previous record set under former President Bill Clinton between late 1995 and early 1996. That shutdown lasted 21 days and was over a budget dispute between Clinton and then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

Fox News’ Alex Miller contributed to this report

Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk’s death has not dimmed his legacy of encouraging an increasingly ‘unhappy’ generation to seek meaning and purpose through faith and family, young Americans told Fox News Digital.

‘I think we live in a world where people are more unhappy than ever,’ Georgetown University student Elizabeth Oliver said. ‘Depression rates and suicide are so high, and people are longing for true happiness. Charlie always talked about how ‘desires of the flesh’ aren’t fulfilling or making people happy. Instead of pursuing those things, we should turn ourselves toward higher purposes like family, marriage and God, because those are what truly fulfill people’s lives.’

‘I actually think most people are searching for something,’ she said. ‘I think that searching should be directed toward God. But I think most people recognize nowadays that what the Left has to offer is not going to lead to a fulfilling life.’

Americans’ happiness has taken a nosedive in recent years, with the U.S. falling eight spots in the 2024 World Happiness Report, which ranks countries’ life satisfaction, due to American young adults reporting they are not satisfied compared to their parents’ and grandparents’ generations. Americans older than the age of 60 ranked number 10 for overall happiness, according to the study, while young adults under the age of 30 ranked 62nd internationally for happiness, CNBC reported in 2024. 

Suicide and depression rates have meanwhile skyrocketed in recent years, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting that one-in-five high school students seriously considered attempting suicide in 2023, with suicide jumping by 62% among young adults when comparing 2007 data to 2021 data. 

Amid the increasing rates of unhappiness among youths, Kirk landed under the national spotlight as a youth, himself, rallying his peers to embrace conservative and Christian values to find peace. 

‘Marriage isn’t just a life milestone- it’s a calling. God didn’t say ‘wait until you feel ready.’ He said ‘it is not good for man to be alone.’ Get married young. Be fruitful and multiply,’ Kirk posted to Facebook just months before his death. 

His comments were even praised by Trump, who celebrated his message to young adults to get married. 

‘We have so many bad philosophies, ideologies, politics,’ Trump said on Fox News following Kirk’s death. ‘His was basically just good. He talked about family, he talked about getting married, ‘go get married. It sounds old-fashioned when you think about it, but he’s right.’ 

Kirk was shot and killed Sept. 10 during an outdoor event at Utah Valley University, the first stop on TPUSA’s planned ‘American Comeback Tour.’ 

After news of Kirk’s killing spread across the country and world, some college students are choosing to carry on his legacy by echoing the values he championed and encouraging political debate among Gen Z peers.

Oliver is one of those Gen Zers, a college senior and president of the university’s Right to Life group,a pro-life advocacy group. She told Fox News Digital that she believes open dialogue can help renew focus on Christian conservative values.

Kirk ‘dedicated his life to talking with other people respectfully and listening to them,’ she said. ‘We desperately need more of that dialogue now, more than ever. In a world that has abandoned God and moral values, we have even abandoned the basic respect for other human beings and we need to reclaim it.’

Kirk often spoke of marriage, children and the importance of family — with his widow continuing the promotion of those values from the stage of his memorial service in Arizona in September.

‘We have an uplifting message for America, one that is hopeful, one of family formation, one off church attendance going up one of business ownership of entrepreneurship,’ Kirk said on ‘The Will Cain Show’ on May 2.

‘Trump voters, young men, they want family, children, and legacy,’ Kirk added on the Ingraham Angle Sept. 8, only two days before he was killed. ‘Young women who voted for Kamala Harris, they want careerism, consumerism, and loneliness. That is a dramatic divide that is going to play out in our politics for the years to come.’

Americans’ pessimism toward the institution of marriage and family, however, currently outweighs their optimism, according to a September 2023 Pew Research Center report called, ‘Public Has Mixed Views on the Modern American Family.’ 

‘Americans most often point to job satisfaction and close friends, rather than being married or having children, when asked what contributes to a fulfilling life,’ the report found. ‘Some 71% say having a job or career they enjoy is extremely or very important for people to live a fulfilling life, and 61% say the same about having close friends. Only about a quarter say having children (26%) or being married (23%) is equally important.’

However, young adults are picking up the mantle of Kirk’s promotion of traditional values as support for TPUSA continues to grow following his death. 

Since Kirk’s assassination, Boston University College Republicans Vice President Philip Wohltorf, who also works as a legislative aide in the Massachusetts State Senate, said his group has seen a drastic increase in attendance. Democratic groups on campus, however, have not been open to debating, he said, allowing anti-conservative sentiment to spread across the student body. 

‘We were thinking, well, the left is open-minded and tolerant, they want to talk,’ he said. ‘Unfortunately, they don’t, and it doesn’t really help. I think it would be great on campus if we would have a civil, calm, challenging debate. It would show the student body that people can disagree with one another but still shake hands and be friends afterward.’

He said, ‘America was founded on the principle of freedom of speech and dialogue, and nobody did it better than Charlie Kirk,’ as the cultural divide continues to widen.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, the Boston University College Democrats said the group sent a ‘polite decline’ to a debate request, explaining that it is ‘very difficult to make debates worthwhile.’

‘We feel it is very difficult to make debates worthwhile for participants and viewers, so we decline them with everyone, not just Republicans,’ the group said. ‘Freedom of speech is something we value greatly but we believe that open bipartisan collaboration is the path forward at this time.’

The group condemned all political violence, adding, ‘Charlie Kirk should not have died. We believe everyone should be able to share their ideas and beliefs without fear.’

TPUSA exploded with new interest after Kirk’s memorial service, receiving more than 120,000 campus chapter requests, according to the organization. 

Prior to the memorial service, TPUSA had around 60,000 requests, Andrew Kolvet, executive producer of ‘The Charlie Kirk Show’ recently said. TPUSA operates 900 official college chapters and approximately 1,200 high school chapters across the country. 

Wohltorf said more young people are standing by their values, pointing to faith and family as the most important priorities to many in his generation.

‘I like the saying that people were now posting in the past two weeks talking about how one Charlie Kirk is gone but one hundred thousand new Charlie Kirks were just created,’ Wohltorf said. ‘The majority of the conservative movement feels obligated to continue Charlie Kirk’s legacy and to continue to preach those family values, faith, and Christianity … I think that the majority conservative movement is even more likely to fight now and to speak out,’ Wohltorf said.

Oliver and Wohltorf believe these values will continue to be upheld for years to come after this political turning point. They say they’re inspired by Kirk’s legacy to share their beliefs and not be afraid.

‘I think the majority is trying to continue his legacy, feeling obligated to fight, feeling obligated to foster dialogue, debate, and challenge one another with ideas,’ Wohltorf said.

‘Ultimately, Charlie said he wants to be remembered for his courage, for his faith, and I think that message is resounding very strongly with my generation,’ Oliver said.

Trump posthumously awarded Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, Tuesday at the White House.

Fox News Digital’s Amanda Macias contributed to this report.

New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill is facing criticism after a businessman linked to the Chinese Communist Party made multiple donations totaling tens of thousands of dollars to her campaign. 

Pin Ni, the founder of Wanxiang America Corporation, donated $60,000 to the One Giant Leap super PAC backing Sherrill’s campaign in the form of two checks, in addition to giving the $5,800 individual max donation directly to Sherrill’s campaign this summer, according to records reviewed by Fox News Digital and first reported on by New York Post.

Political campaigns in the United States are only permitted to accept money from American citizens or permanent legal residents and, in addition to Pin’s status being unclear, questions have been raised about the ethics of accepting money from individuals linked to the Chinese Communist Party. 

‘The donor, Pin Ni, has an extensive history of assisting the CCP’s political warfare and influence operations upon the U.S., and of generally aligning with and carrying out party commands,’ Michael Lucci, Founder and CEO of State Armor, told New York Post, adding that taking money from Ni is ‘disqualifying.’

Wanxiang Group posthumously awarded the company’s founder, Lu Guanqiu, the title of ‘National Outstanding Communist Party Member’ in a 2021 press release and praised Guanqiu for his ‘pursuit of communism as a lifelong ideal and practice.’ The press release also said Guanqiu, the late father-in-law of Pin Ni, ‘has always listened to the [Chinese Communist] Party and followed the Party,’ a Fox News Digital review found earlier this year. 

The press release continued by quoting Chinese President Xi Jinping’s praise of Guanqiu, saying he was ‘in line with the Party Central Committee. He always actively does what our Party committees and governments at all levels advocate.’

The founder’s bio on the Wanxiang website says he was elected as the 13th and 14th Representatives of the CPPCC, and a delegate to the 9th, 10th, and 11th Chinese National People’s Congress, top levels of the CCP’s hierarchy. 

Fox News Digital reached out to the Sherrill campaign inquiring whether the money would be returned. 

Fox News Digital also reached out to Pin Ni but did not immediately receive a response.

Sherrill isn’t the only Democrat running for governor in November to be faced with questions about donations from Pin Ni.

Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger took $50,000 from the CCP-tied businessman in two $25,000 installments in April and May, Fox News Digital previously reported. 

The donations sparked criticism from Spanberger’s Republican opponent, Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears.

‘Taking $50,000 from someone with clear Chinese Communist Party ties tells us all we need to know,’ her campaign spokesperson said at the time. ‘You can’t claim to stand up to foreign threats while pocketing money from someone celebrated by the CCP.’

A Spanberger campaign spokesperson said, ‘Virginians know that Abigail Spanberger has a demonstrated record of standing up for America’s national security, delivering results for Virginia families across party lines, and never backing down from keeping the American people safe.’

‘Her campaign will remain focused on what Virginians care about most, keeping our communities safe, driving down costs, protecting Virginia jobs, and making sure Virginia’s public schools are the very best in America,’ the spokesperson added.

Fox News Digital’s Amanda Macias contributed to this report

Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday said President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan for the Gaza Strip was based on one developed by the Biden administration.

In a lengthy post on X, Blinken, who served in the Biden administration, outlined how Trump was able to secure the peace agreement. He noted that Arab states and Turkey have said ‘enough’ to Hamas, and said the response also showed that other Iran-backed groups — Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi rebels — were not coming to Hamas’ aid.

‘It starts with a clear and comprehensive post-conflict plan for Gaza,’ Blinken wrote. ‘It’s good that President Trump adopted and built on the plan the Biden administration developed after months of discussion with Arab partners, Israel and the Palestinian Authority.’

Blinken said the Biden administration briefly secured a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in January, resulting in the release of 135 hostages before the deal fell apart.

He also questioned how Trump could secure a permanent peace plan.

Fox News senior White House correspondent Peter Doocy asked Trump about Blinken’s remarks aboard Air Force One.

‘Everybody knows it’s a joke,’ Trump said. ‘Look, they did such a bad job. This should have never happened.’

‘If just a decent president — not a great president like me — if a decent president were in, you wouldn’t have had the Russia-Ukraine (war),’ Trump said. ‘This was bad policy by Biden and Obama.’

Trump was in Egypt on Monday to work on the second phase of the cease-fire while meeting with more than 20 world leaders.

‘We’ve heard it for many years, but nobody thought it could ever get there. And now we’re there,’ Trump said.

‘This is the day that people across this region and around the world have been working, striving, hoping and praying for,’ he added. ‘With the historic agreement we have just signed, those prayers of millions have finally been answered. Together, we have achieved the impossible.’

In his post, Blinken said the postwar plan for Gaza should be implemented immediately, ‘with eyes wide open about its challenges: pulling together the international stabilization force, fully demilitarizing and disarming Hamas, dealing with insurgents, and expeditiously securing a phased but full Israeli withdrawal.’

He also credited Trump for reaffirming ‘the key principles we established for Gaza at the outset of the war — no platform for terrorism, no annexation, no occupation, no forced population transfers — and for making clear the overall goal is to create the conditions for a credible pathway to a Palestinian state.’

President Donald Trump’s administration has secured the release of more than 70 U.S. hostages held by foreign governments since taking office in January,according to the State Department. 

The Trump administration has emphasized arranging the release of U.S. hostages under his second administration, including Marc Fogel, a U.S. history teacher who had been detained in Russia since 2021, and Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old American–Israeli who spent nearly 600 days as a hostage after Hamas abducted him after its initial attack on Israel. 

Hostages released since Trump’s inauguration include Americans who were detained in Afghanistan, Belarus, Venezuela, Russia, Israel, Tunisia, Kuwait and Cameroon. 

A total of 72 U.S. citizens have been released since Trump’s inauguration in January, according to the State Department’s Office of Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. 

Since then, another hostage release occurred in September when U.S. citizen Amir Amiry was released from wrongful detainment in Afghanistan. 

By comparison, former President Joe Biden said in 2024 his White House secured the release of more than 70 hostages during his four years in office, according to an August 2024 statement.  

Trump claimed to have helped release 58 in his first term as president. 

Trump met with Alexander at the White House Tuesday, exactly two years after Hamas’ initial attack on Israel. Alexander previously visited the White House in July. 

Alexander was raised in Tenafly, New Jersey, and headed to Israel when he was 18-years-old to volunteer for the Israel Defense Forces. He lived with his grandparents in Tel Aviv before he was taken hostage by Hamas. 

In February, Trump met with Fogel, who was arrested in August 2021 at a Russian airport for possessing drugs and was slated to serve a 14-year sentence. Fogel’s family said the drugs he had on him were medically prescribed marijuana. 

‘I want you to know that I am not a hero in this at all,’ Fogel said after meeting Trump. ‘And President Trump is a hero.’

‘These men that came from the diplomatic service are heroes,’ Fogel said. ‘The senators and representatives that passed legislation in my honor — they got me home — they are heroes.’

Following Fogel’s return and after announcing the release of another, unnamed hostage held in Belarus, Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler said in February Trump ‘has made bringing Americans home a top priority, and people respond to that.’

In less than a month into Trump’s second term, the White House said that he had secured the release of 11 U.S. citizens from foreign governments. Fox News Digital didn’t find any available data to compare numbers from Biden’s first month in office.

Just before Trump’s inauguration Jan. 20, both the Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration coordinated to secure a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, which included provisions to release dozens of hostages on both sides. 

Biden and Trump separately boasted about their individual efforts to secure the deal, and then-State Department spokesman Matthew Miller described the Trump administration’s involvement as ‘critical’ to getting the deal over the finish line. 

Trump also touted his administration’s involvement in a social media post Jan. 15, claiming it occurred ‘as a result of our Historic Victory in November, as it signaled to the entire World that my Administration would seek Peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans, and our Allies.’

Although Biden said the two teams had been ‘speaking as one team’ during the negotiations, he also mocked suggestions that Trump was responsible for securing the ceasefire deal. 

‘Who in the history books gets credit for this, Mr. President, you or Trump?’ Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich asked Biden Jan. 15 after a White House news conference.

‘Is that a joke?’ Biden said. 

When Heinrich said it was not, Biden replied, ‘Oh. Thank you.’ 

The Associated Press and Fox News’ Emma Colton and Landon Mion contributed to this report.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday announced that he intends to nominate President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in securing a ceasefire and hostage agreement between Hamas and Israel.

It will be Pakistan’s second time putting up Trump for the prize. In June, Pakistan nominated Trump for his role in securing a ceasefire agreement between Islamabad and neighboring India.

‘Pakistan had nominated President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his outstanding, extraordinary contributions to first stop the war between India and Pakistan and then achieve a ceasefire, along with his very wonderful team,’ Sharif said in Egypt, speaking next to Trump.

‘And today, again, I would like to nominate this great president for the Nobel Peace Prize because I genuinely feel that he is the most genuine and most wonderful candidate for the Peace Prize because he has brought not only peace in South Asia, saving millions of people and their lives,’ he added. ‘And today, here in Sharm el-Sheikh, achieving peace in Gaza is saving millions of lives in the Middle East.’

Trump and Sharif were part of a delegation of world leaders gathered in Egypt’s coastal resort area of Sharm el-Sheikh to sign documents related to the peace deal in Gaza.

After announcing his intention to nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, Sharif turned to the president and made a brief saluting gesture toward him.

‘Mr. President, I would like to salute you for your exemplary, visionary leadership. I think you are the man this world needs most at this point in time. The world will always remember you as a man who did everything — who went out of his way to stop seven and, today, eight wars,’ Sharif added.

Last week, the Nobel Committee in Norway awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.

While introducing the other world leaders, Trump appeared to chide Norway over last week’s choice.

‘Oh, Norway — aye, yay, yay,’ Trump said. ‘Norway. What happened, Norway? What happened?’

After facing backlash for staying silent as Israeli hostages were freed from Gaza, New York City socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani finally broke his silence Monday afternoon.

‘Today’s scenes of Israelis and Palestinians are profoundly moving: Israeli hostages being freed and families reunited after years of fear, uncertainty, and torture; the first days in Gaza without relentless Israeli bombardment of Palestinians as families return to rubble and loved ones freed from detention,’ Mamdani posted on X on Monday shortly after 4 p.m. EST in a message that did not mention President Donald Trump or acknowledge his role in the negotiations. 

Mamdani went on to mark the development as a ‘glimmer of hope’ that the ceasefire will ‘hold’ and the ‘long and difficult work of reconstruction can begin.’

‘I also know this news brings solace to millions of New Yorkers, who’ve felt the pain of the past few years,’ Mamdani said. ‘We have watched as our tax dollars have funded a genocide. The moral and human cost will be a lasting stain and requires accountability and real examination of our collective conscience and our government’s policies.’

Mamdani’s lengthy post concluded by saying that the ‘responsibility now lies’ with those who ‘believe in peace.’

‘Once aid is delivered, the wounded are cared for, and a lasting agreement secured, we cannot look away,’ Mamdani said. ‘We must work towards a future built upon justice, one without occupation and apartheid, and for a world where every person can live with safety and dignity.’

Mamdani’s post came roughly three hours after one of his opponents, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, called him out on social media for not commenting that morning as the hostages were released. 

‘It shouldn’t go unnoticed that @ZohrankMamdani — who still refuses to condemn the phrase ‘globalize the intifada’ (widely understood to mean death to Jews) — has yet to comment on the release of the hostages,’ Cuomo posted on X. ‘His silence speaks volumes.’

Both Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa released statements on social media earlier in the morning praising the release of the hostages, with Sliwa being the only one to offer praise to Trump by name. 

In a CNN interview on Friday, Mamdani hinted that he was open to giving Trump credit. 

‘If the genocide ends, then I think that’s something worthy to be praised, and if the hostages are returned,’ Mamdani said. ‘Those things together have to be done in tandem.’

Mamdani’s post quickly brought critical reactions, including from New York City GOP Councilwoman Inna Vernikov.

‘GLARINGLY MISSING FROM THIS WORD SALAD: Any single mention of HAMAS or the TERRORISTS who brought this upon themselves by murdering & raping their way across Israel on 10/7,’ Vernikov posted on X. ‘You know, the same terrorists that your wife was glorifying on her Instagram story? Those terrorists?’

Mamdani, who has been widely criticized for his comments and positions on Israel, spent Sunday night raising money for a United Nations organization that employed Oct. 7 terrorists, just hours before the final living Israeli hostages were released from Hamas captivity.

Trump celebrated ‘peace in the Middle East’ after he signed the historic peace agreement that ended two years of fighting in Gaza. 

‘At long last, we have peace in the Middle East, and it’s a very simple expression, peace in the Middle East,’ Trump said during remarks at Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, flanked by dozens of world leaders. 

‘We’ve heard it for many years, but nobody thought it could ever get there. And now we’re there.’ 

Trump went on: ‘This is the day that people across this region and around the world have been working, striving, hoping, and praying for. With the historic agreement we have just signed, those prayers of millions have finally been answered. Together, we have achieved the impossible.’

His remarks came after Hamas released the final remaining 20 living hostages on Monday as Israel backed off its frontline positioning in Gaza over the weekend. 

Fox News Digital reached out to the Mamdani campaign but did not immediately receive a response.

Fox News Digital’s Anders Hagstrom and Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.

Sometimes, data breaches result in more than just free credit monitoring. Recently, Facebook began paying out its $725 million settlement, and AT&T is preparing to distribute $177 million. Those payouts caught scammers’ attention.

Now, fake settlement claim emails and websites are flooding inboxes. They look convincing, but behind the plain design and official-sounding language is a trap for your Social Security number, banking info and more. So how can you make sure you get your money without losing even more in the process?

Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CyberGuy.com newsletter.

Why fake settlement sites are so convincing

Settlement claim websites rarely look polished. Most have generic layouts, long URLs and simple forms asking for a claim ID from your email or postcard. That makes it easy for scammers to mimic them. To test how simple it is, we created a fake settlement site (below) in minutes using AI tools like ChatGPT.

If we can do it, you can bet criminals are already exploiting the same shortcuts. Facebook has been the target. A fake site once popped up around the Equifax settlement, tricking thousands before it was shut down. The lesson? If the site appears unusual, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s fake, but it should prompt you to double-check before entering your details or clicking on any links.

Red flags that expose fake settlement sites

Spotting a scam often comes down to noticing the little details. Watch for these common warning signs before you hand over your information.

Requests for too much personal data

If a site asks for your full Social Security number or the names of your children, stop. For example, the official Equifax settlement only requested the last six digits of SSNs. Genuine claim sites may ask for limited info (like the last four digits of your SSN), but they rarely demand complete Social Security or bank details.

Promises of payout estimates upfront

Real administrators calculate payments only after the claim period closes.

Texts or social media messages

Settlements are announced by mail or email, not through random DMs or SMS.

Odd or misspelled URLs

Even one extra letter in the web address is a sign of a spoof site. Legitimate settlements use official or clearly named administrator domains. Be wary of addresses with unusual add-ons, such as ‘secure-pay’ or ‘claims-pay.’

Urgent language or countdowns

Scammers rely on urgency to pressure you into acting fast. Real settlement sites don’t demand 24-hour turnarounds.

Processing fee checkboxes

A sure giveaway of a fake. Real settlement administrators never require money to file or to receive your payout.

Cheap trust badges

Scam sites often throw in fake ‘secure’ seals. Look for recognized security seals and make sure they’re clickable and verifiable.

Generic contact info tied to the suspicious domain

Official sites list multiple, verifiable contacts. If the email or phone number matches the weird domain, that’s a red flag.

Grammar or spelling mistakes in the fine print

Sloppy errors in legal-sounding text are a classic sign you’re looking at a scam.

How to safely handle settlement claim notices

Before filing any claim, follow these steps to ensure you’re dealing with a legitimate settlement site and protecting your information.

1) Start at the FTC

The Federal Trade Commission keeps updated lists of approved class action settlements at ftc.gov/enforcement/refunds. The legitimate links always point to a .gov website. If your email sends you elsewhere, treat it with caution. 

2) Cross-check with other resources

Trusted outlets often cover large settlements and include safe links. ClassAction.org is another resource for checking legitimate URLs.

3) Skip the links, use the mail

Your claim notice may include a mailing address. Sending a paper form avoids the digital phishing minefield altogether.

4) Use strong antivirus software

Strong antivirus software can block malicious links, warn you about dangerous websites and prevent malware from taking over your device.

The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware and potentially access your private information is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.

Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com.

5) Try a data removal service

Data removal services work to scrub your personal information from broker lists, making it more difficult for criminals to target you.

While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.

Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting CyberGuy.com.

Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com.

6) Never pay to file

If a site asks for ‘administrative fees’ or a ‘processing charge,’ close it immediately. Real settlement administrators will never ask for money.

7) Report suspicious sites

Spot a fake? Protect others by reporting it to:

• The FTC Complaint Assistant at reportfraud.ftc.gov/
• The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov/
• The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at consumerfinance.gov/about-us/the-bureau/

Quick reporting helps authorities shut down scams before more people fall victim.

Can you tell a real email from a fake?

Take our quick quiz at Cyberguy.com/ScamChecko learn how to spot phishing scams, protect your inbox, and stay a step ahead of hackers. 

Kurt’s key takeaways

Class action settlements can feel like rare wins for consumers after data breaches. But scammers see them as easy hunting grounds. The best defense is skepticism. Check URLs, avoid clicking direct links and never give away details that don’t match the claim’s purpose. Your payout should help you recover, not put you at greater risk.

Have you ever received a settlement notice that felt suspicious, and how did you handle it? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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