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Former President Trump’s call for Congress to defund the Department of Justice and the FBI in response to growing legal pressure creates a new headache for Republican leaders on Capitol Hill and may undercut their message that Republicans are tough on crime.  

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) has championed the message this year that the Biden administration and Democrats around the country are weak on crime but now he’s faced with Trump supporters in the House threatening to cut funding for the nation’s top law enforcement agencies.  

One such Trump ally is House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) who on Sunday endorsed the idea of cutting money for the Justice Department and FBI. 

Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who relied on Jordan’s support to win the Speaker’s gavel after 15 ballots, is giving his chairman plenty of space to pressure federal prosecutors and investigators to back off Trump.  

While McConnell has chastised the Justice Department and FBI for “harassing” conservatives, such as parents who complain at local school board meetings, embracing the idea of cutting federal law enforcement money amid what many Republicans say is a national crime wave is politically dangerous, experts and strategists say.  

“Trump is creating problems for Republicans everywhere,” said Steven S. Smith, a professor of political science at Washington University in St. Louis. “It’s almost impossible to see anything good from this kind of comment coming for the Republicans.  

“The idea that they would get on the opposite side of law enforcement agencies from where they have traditionally been is only going to make them look radical and foolish in the eyes of many of the voters they absolutely need: suburbanites and exurban voters who are already showing disdain for Trump-supporting Republicans,” he added. “Trump’s comments make it more difficult for Republicans who are tying their political future to him.”  

Trump on Wednesday declared that “Republicans in Congress should defund the DOJ and FBI until they come to their senses” in apparent response to the Justice Department’s investigation of whether he incited the Jan 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and his handling of classified documents at his personal residence.  

He made the comment on his social media platform Truth Social. 

A Senate Republican aide later on Wednesday said that idea won’t get any traction in the Senate, where Republicans control 49 seats.  

“I understand the former president is frustrated, but that’s not going to happen,” the source said, knocking down the idea that Republican senators would support using the annual appropriations for the Justice Department and FBI as leverage.  

This is becoming a point of tension with House Republicans, who say they are ready to use their power of the purse to protect Trump.  

“We control the power of the purse, and that’s, we’re gonna have to look at the appropriations process and limit funds going to some of these agencies, particularly the ones who are engaging in the most egregious behavior,” Jordan told Fox News host Maria Bartiromo in an interview Sunday.  

When Bartiromo asked if he meant the Justice Department and FBI, Jordan responded: “Yeah.” 

McCarthy has already given Jordan a green light to scrutinize federal funding for Bragg and other prosecutors investigating Trump.   

“I’m directing relevant committees to immediately investigate if federal funds are being used to subvert our democracy by interfering in elections with politically motivated prosecutions,” he wrote in a March 18 tweet pinned to the top of his Twitter account.  

Some Republican strategists say Trump may have an argument to make that the federal prosecutors are treating him unfairly but warn that putting pressure on allies in Congress to defund the Justice Department and FBI is going too far.  

“Just because Democrats want to defund police, I don’t think it’s smart politically or as a policy to say, ‘Well, we should defund the FBI,’” said Matt Dole, an Ohio-based Republican strategist.  

“If we find that the FBI has acted wrongly, then they should be held to account and we should make sure that can’t happen again. Does that mean defunding? I don’t believe it does,” he added.  

Whit Ayres, a prominent Republican strategist, pointed out the Justice Department and FBI had nothing to do with Trump’s arraignment on 34 felony counts in a New York City courthouse Tuesday.  

“The Department of Justice had nothing to do with this case, the FBI had nothing to do with this case but we’re supposed to defund two entities that had nothing to do with the case. Does that really make any sense to anyone?” he said, referring to the case Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg brought against Trump Tuesday.  

The former president suffered another legal setback Tuesday when the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered Trump’s former chief of staff Mark Meadows and other senior Trump White House officials to cooperate with the Justice Department’s Jan. 6 investigation.  

The appellate court agreed with a district court decision rejecting Trump’s claims of executive privilege.  

“The Democrats have totally weaponized law enforcement in our country and are viciously using this abuse of power to interfere with our already under siege election!” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.  

Republicans last year bombarded Democratic candidates in Senate battlegrounds such as Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and North Carolina with ads attacking them for being soft on crime and they regularly accuse Democrats of wanting to defund the police.  

Trump’s call to defund the nation’s top federal law enforcement agencies now muddies that message.  

“Donald Trump continues to show that everything he does, everything he says turns off middle-of-the-road swing voters and frankly a lot of moderate Republicans. What he does do is gin up his base who are absolutely convinced that every institution in this country is somehow spying on him,” said Morgan Jackson, a Democratic strategist based in North Carolina.   Snow on the beach: Florida deputies say $100,000 in cocaine washed ashore White House addressing antisemitism at the start of Passover; opportunity for all faiths to combat hate

He said Trump’s calls to defend the Department of Justice and FBI are “incredibly problematic for Republicans who want to say that they’re strong on crime or accuse Democrats of being weak on crime.” 

“I think it creates a real problem for Republicans and Republican candidates,” he said. “We saw this in 2022. It breeds the kind of Republican candidates that run for office that win these primaries and can’t win a general election.  

“It puts Mitch McConnell, Kevin McCarthy and every swing seat in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House in a position where Trump is the story all day, every day, whatever he says. That’s a bad thing for Republicans and a great thing for Democrats,” he argued.  

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Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy pushes for Gaza ceasefire deal ahead of US inauguration

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Donald Trump's Middle East envoy pushes for Gaza ceasefire deal ahead of US inauguration

Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy has met Israel’s prime minister in an effort to secure a ceasefire deal in Gaza before the president-elect takes office on 20 January.

Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed details of the meeting with Steve Witkoff on Saturday, adding that the head of the Israeli Mossad intelligence agency has been deployed to Qatar in order to “advance” talks.

It was not immediately clear when David Barnea would travel to Doha for the latest round of indirect discussions between Israel and Hamas.

Earlier on Saturday, an Israeli official said some progress had been made, mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the United States, to reach a deal in Gaza.

Israel's Chief of the Mossad David Barnea and Security Agency director Ronen Bar attend a memorial ceremony of the Hamas attack on October 7 last year that sparked the ongoing war in Gaza, at the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem on October 27, 2024. GIL COHEN-MAGEN/Pool via REUTERS
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Ronen Bar (left), director of Israel’s security agency, and David Barnea (right), head of Mossad, at a ceremony marking the 7 October Hamas attack. File pic: Reuters

The mediators are making renewed efforts to halt fighting in Gaza and free the remaining Israeli hostages held there before Mr Trump takes office.

A deal would also involve the release of some Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

Families of Israeli hostages welcomed Mr Netanyahu’s decision to dispatch the officials, with the Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters describing it as a “historic opportunity”.

Mr Witkoff arrived in Doha on Friday and met the Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar’s foreign ministry said.

Egyptian and Qatari mediators received reassurances from Mr Witkoff that the US would continue to work towards a fair deal to end the war soon, Egyptian security sources said, though no further details were released.

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Israel launched its assault on Gaza after Hamas fighters stormed across its borders in October 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures.

Families of the roughly 100 hostages still held in Gaza are pressing Mr Netanyahu to reach a deal to bring their loved ones home.

Since then, more than 46,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials, with much of the area destroyed and gripped by a humanitarian crisis, with most of its population displaced.

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Pope Francis honoured by Joe Biden with Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction

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Pope Francis honoured by Joe Biden with Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction

Pope Francis has been honoured with America’s highest civilian award by President Joe Biden, who has described the pontiff as “a light of faith, hope, and love that shines brightly across the world”.

It is the first time Mr Biden, 82, has given the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction during his four years in office.

In a statement, the White House said the award is “presented to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavours”.

Mr Biden had been scheduled to present the medal to Pope Francis, 88, in person on Saturday in Rome on what was to be the final overseas trip of his presidency. But the president cancelled his visit to monitor the California wildfires.

The White House said Mr Biden bestowed the award during a phone call in which they also discussed efforts to promote peace and alleviate suffering around the world.

President Joe Biden presents Bono with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Pic: AP
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President Joe Biden presented Bono with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Pic: AP

President Joe Biden presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Denzel Washington. Pic: AP
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Denzel Washington was also recognised. Pic: AP

President Joe Biden presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Michael J Fox. Pic: AP
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Michael J Fox was bestowed with the honour. Pic: AP

The award can be presented with or without distinction.

Mr Biden presented the medal of freedom – without distinction – on 5 January to several people including fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton, humanitarian and U2 singer Bono, fashion designer Ralph Lauren and actors Michael J Fox and Denzel Washington.

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‘I could have beaten Trump’

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Mr Biden himself is a recipient of the award with distinction, recognised when he was vice president by then president Barack Obama in a surprise ceremony eight years ago.

President Barack Obama presents Vice President Joe Biden with the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a ceremony in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Jan. 12, 2017. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
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Barack Obama presented Joe Biden with the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction in 2017. File pic: AP

The citation for the pope’s honour said his “mission of serving the poor has never ceased”.

“A loving pastor, he joyfully answers children’s questions about God. A challenging teacher, he commands us to fight for peace and protect the planet. A welcoming leader, he reaches out to different faiths,” it added.

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As the AfD elects its chancellor candidate, the far-right party looms large over German politics

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As the AfD elects its chancellor candidate, the far-right party looms large over German politics

And so now it is certain. Alice Weidel will lead her far-right party into Germany’s general election next month.

She was overwhelmingly backed at the Alternative for Germany (AfD) conference and was greeted with a standing ovation.

Weidel will fight the election with a manifesto that follows a familiar pattern from other successful populist campaigns in Europe and beyond – contempt for mainstream politicians, anger over levels of irregular immigration, a desire to rein in the power of the European Union and dismay over the spread of so-called woke values.

Alice Weidel looks on after she was elected as top candidate for chancellor of the AfD.
Pic: Reuters/Matthias Rietschel
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Alice Weidel looks on after she was elected as top candidate for chancellor of the AfD.
Pic: Reuters/Matthias Rietschel

A participant at the AfD national party conference.
Pic: AP/Sebastian Kahnert/picture-alliance/dpa
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A participant at the AfD national party conference.
Pic: AP/Sebastian Kahnert/picture-alliance/dpa

“Thank you for your trust,” she told the audience.

“I am excited to lead our campaign. For our people, for our future.”

Who is Weidel?

Weidel is an unusual figure to lead a German hard right-wing party – a gay woman with a PhD in economics, a Sri Lankan partner, two children and a home in another country – she commutes from Switzerland.

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Admittedly there is an awkward history – her grandfather was a Nazi judge appointed to the job personally by Adolf Hitler, but she has maintained that she did not know that fact growing up and has angrily distanced herself from accusations of racism.

Indeed, Ms Weidel maintains that her party is not on the far right, but is simply conservative.

Pic: AP/Sebastian Kahnert/picture-alliance/dpa/
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Pic: AP/Sebastian Kahnert/picture-alliance/dpa/

And that is part of her attraction – she is perceived as uncompromising on the things that the AfD’s supporters hold dear – migration, Euroscepticism, the greatness of German culture – but she’s also perceived as more palatable to the wider public.

Or, at least, that’s the idea.

Thousands of protesters

Outside the sports centre, where the AfD’s convention was being held, thousands of protesters gathered to raise their fears that the country was going back to the politics of the past.

“They are fascists,” said a man called Gabriel, who was helping to blockade the road that ran past the venue.

“I don’t know if we have learnt anything in the past hundred years but now we do have to stand against fascism.”

Protestors against the AfD during their national conference.
Pic: AP/Jan Woitas/picture-alliance/dpa/
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Protesters against the AfD during their national conference.
Pic: AP/Jan Woitas/picture-alliance/dpa/

Many of the delegates would angrily decry that label.

However, there was a rousing reception for Bjorn Hocke, a long-standing AfD politician who is from the right wing of this right-wing party.

His grouping, Der Flugel, was declared a suspected extremist organisation but he remained the party’s leader in Thuringia.

In 2019, a court ruled that it was not libellous to refer to Hocke as a fascist.

He has twice been found guilty of using Nazi slogans but last year, under his leadership, the AfD won the state election.

Emotions often run high when the AfD is involved. The protests here were, at times, heated.

Police officers during the protest that blocked a road near the venue for the AfD party congress.
Pic: Reuters/Thilo Schmuelgen
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Police officers during the protest that blocked a road near the venue for the AfD party congress.
Pic: Reuters/Thilo Schmuelgen

Police had to clear the road in front of Ms Weidel’s car as some protesters sat down and others began to surround it.

Later, the party’s MPs were called to gather together for a sudden security briefing.

The sports centre where this meeting was held once hosted the World Sumo Wrestling Championship.

Here, the heavyweights were political, and the prize at stake was far more consequential.

Barring a quite astonishing movement in the polls, the AfD is unlikely to win the election next month, but the party may well come second with more than 20% of the vote.

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That probably won’t equate to power – Germany’s major parties have all said they won’t go into coalition with the AfD – but it will mean momentum.

It will mean a loud voice in the Bundestag, the German federal parliament, and the ability to pressure the next chancellor into reflecting the opinions of the millions who vote for Ms Weidel’s vision.

Long term, if Ms Weidel can prove that her party is palatable, as well as popular, then she knows the political dam will one day break.

If enough people back the AfD, it will eventually become impossible to shun the party forever.

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