When the Biden administration launched its strategy to tackle "root causes" of migration at the southern border during a time of rapidly rising and historic illegal immigration, the now-frozen United States Agency for International Development (USAID) played a significant role.

During the Biden administration, Vice President Kamala Harris was tasked with leading diplomacy in Latin America to tackle the root causes, identified as issues like gang violence, climate change and poverty. It consisted of both government initiatives and funding from private organizations.

USAID, which was frozen in recent days over concerns about misspending, played a key role in the distribution of funds. While certain operations have been halted to get a full picture of USAID funding to the region, it is possible to get a glimpse of the help it provided.

JUDGE BLOCKS TRUMP FROM PLACING 2,200 USAID WORKERS ON LEAVE 

In 2021, the first year of the Biden administration, USAID announced Centroamérica Local, a 5-year, $300 million initiative that funded organizations in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras to address the root causes of migration to the U.S.

"Under this new initiative, Centroamérica Local, USAID intends to invest up to $300 million, subject to the availability of funds, toward engaging, strengthening, and funding local organizations to implement programs to advance sustainable and equitable economic growth, improve governance, fight corruption, protect human rights, improve citizen security, and combat sexual and gender-based violence," USAID said in a statement at the time.

"These programs are being carried out under the Biden-Harris Administration’s Root Causes Strategy and deliver on the Agency’s goal to foster greater engagement with local organizations and communities in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras and advance stability in the region."

More was still to come.

TOP DEM STRATEGISTS WARN USAID FUNDING FIGHT IS A ‘TRAP’ FOR THE PARTY

In 2022, USAID announced programs in Central America to end gender-based violence, including a $6.5 million program in Guatemala and a $2.7 million program in Honduras. That built off a program announced in El Salvadaor.

In March last year, Harris met with Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo and announced a planned investment of $135 million in USAID funding, alongside $170 million to aid development, economic health and security assistance.

Included in the announcement was an expansion of the Central American Service Corps, which was created in 2022 at the Summit of Americas. The expanded program was funded by USAID and aimed to reach 2,800 people seen at most risk of migrating by engaging them with volunteer work, employment and training.

Also announced for Guatemala was a USAID-implemented "Feed the Future" program to strengthen the capacity of research and education entities to scale agricultural technologies and to support research and education related to "climate smart" agriculture.

USAID was also to implement a new "Guatemala Biodiversity Conservation" program to promote the conservation of biodiversity and strengthen protected areas and other areas of ecological importance.

In September, USAID announced an additional $10.75 million in funding for Guatemala.

USAID STAFFERS STUNNED, ANGERED BY TRUMP ADMIN'S DOGE SHUTDOWN OF $40B AGENCY

That came after USAID invested over $153 million in Guatemala in 2023 to allegedly support the government in efforts to strengthen democracy and improve opportunities. According to a release, funded activities included "integrated rural and agricultural development, sustainable economic growth, support for the construction of climate-resilient infrastructure, and digital development and e-governance."

Harris was dogged by the "border czar" title throughout her unsuccessful presidential bid as she largely dropped the root causes emphasis and instead focused on the Biden administration’s efforts to secure the border.

President Donald Trump’s administration has demonstrated a skepticism of the root causes strategy, both in its leaning in on border security and interior enforcement and also its moves to cut or freeze funding abroad.

In his first week in office, Trump also rescinded Biden's 2021 executive order creating a "comprehensive regional framework to address the causes of migration, to manage migration throughout North and Central America and to provide safe and orderly processing of asylum seekers at the United States border."

He also revoked an executive order to rebuild and enhance programs to resettle refugees and plan for "the impact of climate change on migration."

Former Vice President Kamala Harris was spotted at a Los Angeles Lakers game this week and appeared to receive a rather icy reaction from fans in attendance on Thursday night. 

Videos shared on social media showed Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, walking to their seats at the Crypto.com Arena for Thursday’s game against the Golden State Warriors. 

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Social media users pointed out Harris’ seats, which appeared several rows up from the court, and the overall lack of reception as Harris and Emhoff made their way up. 

Comedian Jeff Dye, who was in attendance, shared a video of Harris' and Emhoff’s seats. 

"Kamala Harris is at the Lakers Warriors game in like row 58. Should’ve saved some of that money. @KamalaHarris @DouglasEmhoff," he said in a post shared on X. "lol. What a world." 

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"Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff arrive at the Lakers game. Pretty much nobody cared," one user wrote on X. 

"Crowd is completely unfazed," another commented. 

"The crowd’s unenthusiastic response says it all," one post read. 

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Following Harris’ failed campaign, speculation about the former vice president’s future in politics has linked her to a possible California gubernatorial bid in 2026.

Prior to Thursday’s NBA game, Harris visited areas damaged by the Palisades wildfires and spoke with displaced residents at a Red Cross shelter. 

That same day, when speaking with reporters, Harris appeared to dodge the rumors about her future political endeavors. 

"I have been home for two weeks and three days," Harris said. "My plans are to be in touch with my community, to be in touch with the leaders and figure out what I can do to support them."

When pressed further, Harris responded that she "would be here no matter what office I hold, because it is the right thing to do."

Fox News Digital's Rachel Wolf contributed to this report. 

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A Michigan Democratic congresswoman who refused to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris' 2024 presidential run due to the Biden-Harris administration's stand on Israel is now lashing out against the Republican who defeated her, citing his proposal on ending the Gaza conflict.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib blasted President Donald Trump for his comments on the war in Gaza and urged her allies to ramp up a push for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

"This president can only spew this fanatical bulls--- because of bipartisan support in Congress for funding genocide and ethnic cleansing,"  Tlaib said on Twitter Tuesday. "It’s time for my two-state solution colleagues to speak."

Tlaib's comments came after Trump proposed a U.S. takeover of war-torn Gaza following the war, saying that Palestinians could be resettled to other countries. 

SAUDI ARABIA CONTRADICTS TRUMP, VOWS NO TIES WITH ISRAEL WITHOUT CREATION OF PALESTINIAN STATE 

But Tlaib’s calls for other lawmakers to "speak up" comes after she declined to take a stance on last year’s presidential election.

Tlaib’s decision not to endorse a candidate in the presidential race came during a time of severe backlash against the Biden administration’s policies in Gaza by many constituents in her district, with some Muslim leaders going so far as to endorse Trump despite their traditional support for Democratic candidates.

One such leader, Bishara Bahbah, chaired a group known as Arab Americans for Trump. But Bahbah announced on Wednesday that he was changing the name of the group, according to a report from the Associated Press, citing Trump’s comments on Gaza.

THE HISTORY OF GAZA AMID TRUMP’S PLAN TO REBUILD ENCLAVE 

"The talk about what the president wants to do with Gaza, obviously we’re completely opposed to the idea of the transfer of Palestinians from anywhere in historic Palestine," he said in a statement announcing the group’s name would be changed to Arab Americans for Peace. "And so we did not want to be behind the curve in terms of pushing for peace, because that has been our objective from the very beginning."

But the sudden outcry in reaction to Trump’s comments wasn’t well received by all Democrats, with Democratic strategist Julian Epstein telling Fox News Digital that Trump’s proposal was a lot more positive than anything Tlaib appears to be offering as a solution.

"Whether you agree or disagree with Trump’s proposal, at least he is proposing something that could lead to a bright future for Gaza," Epstein said. "Tlaib, on the other hand, has advocated for policies that would keep the neo-Nazi, terrorist, race-hating Hamas in power while mimicking their rhetoric rom ‘river to sea,’ for which she was sanctioned by the House, including with Democratic support."

Conservatives on social media are having a field day mocking the Democratic National Committee for featuring a handful of "beyond parody" moments during its leadership vote over the weekend, which critics say underscores that Democrats have "learned absolutely nothing" from their 2024 election losses. 

The DNC voted to elect Minnestota Democrat Party leader Ken Martin as its chair on Saturday, after eight candidates vied to succeed Jaime Harrison. Following the Democratic Party's losses in November, when Republicans reclaimed the White House and Senate and retained control of the House, the DNC's chair vote serves as a fresh slate for the party as they ramp up strategies and fundraising for the next election cycle. 

Conservatives and critics took to social media over the weekend to highlight what they viewed as the most out of touch speeches and comments from party leaders, including the election of left-wing activist David Hogg as one of its three co-chairs. Hogg is an outspoken gun control advocate and the co-founder of March for Our Lives, a gun control group that was formed after the Parkland school shooting in 2018. 

DEMOCRATS ELECT NEW CHAIR WHO BRANDED TRUMP A 'TRAITOR' AS PARTY AIMS TO REBOUND FROM DISASTROUS 2024 ELECTION

"DNC Vice Chair David Hogg has some legitimately INSANE views that are wildly out of step with the American people. Good to see that the Democrat Party has learned absolutely nothing," conservative communicator Steve Guest posted to X. 

Hogg, a Parkland school shooting survivor, said from the DNC vote in Maryland that the party will put Republicans "on the defense" in the coming days and reclaim lost political ground. 

"After Parkland, our country was in a similar moment – where we had a Republican trifecta in Washington," the 24-year-old said during the DNC election. "We went on the offense, put the Republicans on the defense, and we won. That’s what we need to do right now."

'IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY': DNC CHAIR CANDIDATES REVEAL HOW THEY WILL REBOUND AFTER DISASTROUS 2024 RESULTS

"We’re going to show people that the reason people should vote for us isn’t just because we’re not Republicans – it’s because we’re damn Democrats. We give a s---," he pledged. "And we deliver. Now it’s time to rebuild the party and to rethink the way we’ve been doing things."

Amid the hours-long vote and gathering of Democrats on Saturday in Maryland, former DNC chief Harrison announced that the elections must be gender-balanced, including when a non-binary candidate is in the running, sparking condemnation from conservatives. 

DEMOCRATS RALLY AROUND LIGHTENING ROD ISSUE AT FINAL DNC CHAIR DEBATE

"We have an amazing group of new officers. So far, as you know, our three at large vice chair positions are used to ensure gender balance among seven offices: treasury secretary, national finance chair and vice chair for civic engagement and voter participation and the three at large vice chairs. Our rules specify that when we have a non-binary candidate or officer, the non-binary individual is counted as neither male nor female, and the remaining six offices must be gender balanced with the results of the previous four elections. Our elected officers are currently two male and two female. In order to be gender balanced… we must elect one male, one female, and one person of any gender."

Before the election kicked off on Saturday, the eight candidates had traveled to Georgetown University for a forum co-hosted by MSNBC on Thursday, where they declared "racism and misogyny" compounded former Vice President Kamala Harris' election loss. 

"So, I’m going to have a show of hands. How many of you believe that racism and misogyny played a role in Vice President Harris’ defeat?" MSNBC's Jonathan Capehart asked the eight candidates. 

"That’s good. You all passed," Capehart said after all candidates raised their hands in agreement. 

Republican lawmakers and pundits pounced on clips of the exchange, including Sen. Tommy Tubervile, R-Ala., who quipped that the GOP will expand its majority in the midterms. 

Singing also broke out both during the forum and the vote. Dr. Quintessa Hathaway was in the running for chair and belted out a song with the lyrics, "You fight on, when the government is doing you wrong, you fight on" during the Thursday forum. She also sang another song ahead of the vote on Saturday vowing, "We shall overcome."

FIRST ON FOX: AFTER 2024 ELECTION SETBACKS, DEMOCRATS EYE RURAL VOTERS

Harrison was also spotted on camera singing on Saturday, delivering a rendition of Stevie Wonder's "Happy Birthday." 

DEMOCRATS' HOUSE CAMPAIGN CHAIR TELLS FOX NEWS HER PLAN TO WIN BACK MAJORITY

DNC members also "acknowledged" during the vote that the U.S. was "built on indigenous lands."

Ken Martin, who previously slammed Trump as a "traitor" who should be prosecuted for treason, celebrated his win on Saturday, vowing to combat Trump and the Republican Party. 

"We have one team, one team, the Democratic Party," Martin said following his victory. "The fight is for our values. The fight is for working people. The fight right now is against Donald Trump and the billionaires who bought this country."

"We need to go on offense," Martin said. "We're going to go out there and take this fight to Donald Trump and the Republicans."

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Fox News Digital reached out to the DNC on Sunday for comment on the negative backlash over the gathering, but did not immediately receive a reply.  

Fox News Digital's Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report. 

As the Democratic Party continues to grapple with former Vice president Kamala Harris' loss to President Trump, some leaders in the party think they should focus on their economic messaging and creating a coherent message to respond to the president.

"We have no coherent message," Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, told The New York Times on Sunday. "This guy is psychotic, and there’s so much, but everything that underlines it is white supremacy and hate. There needs to be a message that is clear on at least the underlying thing that comes with all of this."

The DNC elected Minnesota party leader Ken Martin on Saturday, who said during his victory speech they needed to "to rebuild our coalition."

"The policies that we support and the message that we have is not wrong," Martin told the NYT. "It is a messaging problem and a brand problem. Those voters are not connecting our policies with their lives."

FINAL DNC CHAIR DEBATE ROCKED BY PROTESTS 

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said the messaging should focus on the economy.

"There are people in the middle — and trust me, there’s a lot of them — that wanted costs to go down," Klobuchar said. "Instead, what they see is chaos going up, corruption going up with the firing of the inspector generals, and guess what else is going up? Egg prices."

Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., said Democrats needed to focus their message on lowering costs.

"Within the party, we need to make sure we have a very clear direction to go," he said. "We need to have our own ideas. We’ll never win again if we are just playing defense."

The New York Times reported that former President Obama compared this to when the Democratic Party had lost Congress and the presidency in 2005.

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Others suggested not honing in on everything the president said.

"We cannot get caught up in every egregious thing he says, every insult he hurls, every ally he attacks and every executive order," Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, told the NYT. "There’s just too much."

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries recently pledged that Democrats would fight against Trump "in the streets."

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"Right now, we're going to keep focus on the need to look out for everyday New Yorkers and everyday Americans who are under assault by an extreme MAGA Republican agenda that is trying to cut taxes for billionaires, donors, and wealthy corporations and then stick New Yorkers and working class Americans across the country with the bill," Jeffries said.

"That's not acceptable. We are going to fight it legislatively. We are going to fight it in the courts. We're going to fight it in the streets."

Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville compared Democrats running former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election to starting a "7th string quarterback" in the Super Bowl, in an interview with PBS' Margaret Hoover on Friday.

"We ran a presidential election, if we were playing a Super Bowl, we started our 7th string quarterback. That's what happened, okay?," said Carville on "Firing Line." "You can't address a problem unless you're honest about a problem."

The Democratic strategist continued by noting that Democratic voters would've been enthralled to have a presidential candidate that could "actually complete a sentence."

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"Now, if you would've put the staggering talent that exists in today's Democratic Party -- you heard what I said? The staggering talent that exists in today's Democratic Party. If people would have seen that, they'd have gone 'I didn't know they had people like that, that can actually complete a sentence, okay? That actually know how to frame a message, that actually have a sense of accomplishment of doing something,'" claimed Carville.

Kamala Harris faced harsh criticism while on the campaign trail for her struggles in dealing with unscripted conversations, which typically yielded word salad responses from the former vice president.

In the weeks leading up to the 2024 presidential election, Carville was so convinced that Kamala would win, he wrote a column for the New York Times titled, "Three Reasons I’m Certain Kamala Harris Will Win."

Carville's column slammed Trump as a "repeat electoral loser" and claimed "This time will be no different," while heaping praise on Harris.

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"On the other side, in just three months Ms. Harris has assembled a unified and electrified coalition. From Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Liz and Dick Cheney, it is the broadest we have seen in modern political history… and if the bigger coalition turns out with equal enthusiasm, it will be lights out for Mr. Trump."

Carville's column also criticized the "sweaty Democratic operatives" who, in the weeks leading up to the election, were having doubts about Harris' chances of beating Trump.

"More than in any other election in my lifetime, I’ve been consistently asked by people of all stripes and creeds: ‘Can Kamala Harris win this thing? Are we going to be OK?’ This sentiment is heard over and over from sweaty Democratic operatives who all too often love to run to the press with their woes," said Carville.

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CBS News announced it would comply with the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) demand that it turn over the transcript of a "60 Minutes" interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris that is the subject of President Trump’s lawsuit against the company.

The FCC, led by Trump appointee Brendan Carr, sent a letter of inquiry to the news company on Wednesday, requesting the "full, unedited transcript and camera feeds."

"We are working to comply with that inquiry as we are legally compelled to do," a CBS News spokesman said in a statement on Friday. 

‘60 MINUTES' UNDER FIRE FOR KAMALA HARRIS EDITING DECISION, HAS HISTORY OF LIBERAL CONTROVERSIES

The news comes as settlement discussions between President Donald Trump and the news outlet’s parent company, Paramount, are underway over Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against CBS News for how it handled its "60 Minutes" interview with then-Vice President Harris last October.

Citing "three people with knowledge of the talks," The New York Times reported that there is "no assurance" the two parties will reach a deal, but noted that "Shari Redstone, Paramount’s controlling shareholder, strongly supports the effort to settle."

The outlet added that Paramount executives believe that settling with Trump will increase the odds that the Trump administration does not block or delay their planned multibillion-dollar merger" with Skydance Media.

Ed Paltzik, an attorney for President Trump, said CBS needs to be held accountable. 

"President Donald J. Trump is committed to holding those who traffic in deception and fake news accountable. CBS and its parent company Paramount deceived the American People by unlawfully tampering with their interview of Kamala Harris, and then hiding the transcript from the public in an attempt to save the failing, and now failed, Harris campaign, all in desperate commercial pursuit of increased profit and viewership."

FOR THIRD YEAR IN A ROW, MORE AMERICANS HAVE ‘NO TRUST’ IN MEDIA THAN THOSE WHO DO: GALLUP

Trump sued the news network in Oct. 2024, alleging "deceptive conduct" in how it produced the interview with Harris just ahead of the presidential election. The then-GOP candidate had accused the network of editing the exchange Harris had with "60 Minutes" correspondent Bill Whitaker at the time.

According to Trump and his legal team, a longer, meandering answer that Harris gave to Whitaker during a promotional clip for the interview, appeared to be edited to a sharper, more condensed answer when the primetime interview aired. 

Trump’s team demanded CBS News to release the full transcript of the interview that month, though the network refused, citing the First Amendment. The network insisted that "the interview was not doctored" and that the program "did not hide any part of the vice president’s answer to the question at issue."

CBS NEWS STATEMENT ON CONTROVERSIAL ’60 MINUTES’ EDIT FALLS FLAT ON SOCIAL MEDIA: 'PUBLISH. THE. TRANSCRIPT.'

The refusal prompted Trump to sue for damages in a Texas federal court. The then-candidate’s attorneys said the suit comes in response to the network’s "partisan and unlawful acts of election and voter interference through malicious, deceptive, and substantial news distortion calculated to confuse, deceive, and mislead the public."

Democratic FCC commissioner Anna Gomez criticized her agency for filing the inquiry this week. The New York Times quoted her, stating, "Let’s be clear, this is a retaliatory move by the government against broadcasters whose content or coverage is perceived to be unfavorable. It is designed to instill fear in broadcast stations and influence a network’s editorial decisions."

CBS and Paramount reps did not immediately reply to Fox News Digital's request for any additional comment. 

Fox News Digital’s Brian Flood contributed to this report.

An excerpt from a new book about the 2024 presidential election shed new light on how former Vice President Kamala Harris’ proposed interview with podcast giant Joe Rogan fell apart.

"Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for The White House," from authors Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes, provided a play-by-play of negotiations between the Rogan and Harris camps to secure Harris’ appearance on the podcast. The dialogue proved fruitless and cost the ex-vice president’s campaign, especially as then-candidate Donald Trump secured a Rogan interview that went viral.

"Trump spent three hours with Rogan in an interview that instantly went viral. The contrast amounted to a ‘traumatic event,’ said one Harris aide, ‘that I will never forget.’"

ROGAN REFLECTS ON PODCAST INTERVIEW WITH FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP: 'GOT THIS ABILITY TO JUST KEEP GOING'

Rogan confirmed in late October – just after publishing his sit-down with Trump – that he had been in negotiations with the Harris team for an interview, noting that talks had come to stand still because of Harris’ demands. At the time, he expressed that he was still open to a future interview, and relayed that the Harris camp hadn’t canceled either. 

Following the Trump’s election victory, Harris’ team suggested that the president’s interview was the factor that killed negotiations. 

"We were hoping to fit it in around that but ultimately weren’t able to do it," Harris campaign senior advisor Stephanie Cutter said on "Pod Save America." "As it turns out, that was the day that Trump was taping his Joe Rogan [appearance], which they had never confirmed to us. We just kind of figured that out in the lead-up to it."

Rogan went on to endorse then-candidate Trump on the eve of the election. 

The section from "Fight" shed more light on what happened, alleging that initial negotiations held between Harris deputy campaign manager Rob Flaherty and Rogan’s reps were rocky. According to the book, Rogan sent them his list of interview conditions on Oct. 11, which included, "no staff in the studio, no topic restrictions, and Harris would have to sign a waiver."

Additionally, "Harris would have to come to Austin, Texas," according to the Rogan team, though they signaled there was some slight leeway on this condition.

JOE ROGAN TELLS TRUMP THE 'WILD S---' HE SAYS FUELED HIS POPULARITY DURING THREE HOUR PODCAST INTERVIEW

The Harris campaign responded, saying that "Harris would be happy to talk about social media censorship, weed, and other issues they thought would be of most interest to his listeners." However, Rogan disagreed.

As the book said, "Joe just wants to talk about the economy, the border, and abortion."

Then the dispute over where Harris would meet Rogan ensued. Flaherty proposed an interview in Michigan, where the then-vice president would be on the campaign trail. "No-go, the Rogan team said after reaching the host on a weeklong hunting trip. Austin or nothing," Parnes and Allen wrote. 

According to their book, "Harris had less than zero reason to be in Texas," as "she was in battleground-or-bust mode."

"Plus, a detour to Texas might smell like desperation to the press and a waste of money to donors," the authors also noted. 

Apparently, Harris campaign chief Jennifer O’Malley Dillon found a solution, telling Rogan’s team that Harris would travel "to Houston for a rally—under the cover of visiting a state with one of the nation’s most restrictive abortion laws—to put her in proximity to Austin" where she could go on the show. 

OVER 10 MILLION VIEWERS WATCHED FOX NEWS' INAUGURATION COVERAGE, CRUSHING ALL OTHER NETWORKS

Harris flew to the state under the auspices of fighting for reproductive rights, though Allen and Parnes wrote, "Only a few people knew the real reason: the whole Houston rally was built to put her in proximity to Rogan."

Despite Harris making this concession, Rogan’s team had more demands that seemed to doom the meeting. When Flaherty mentioned Harris going to Rogan’s studio on Oct. 25, they dodged again. 

"Wish we had known about this sooner, because he has the 25th blocked out as a personal day," the Rogan team said. 

When Flaherty countered with Saturday morning, the podcast host’s people replied, "Only if it’s before 8:30 a.m." The excerpt appeared to suggest that message all but killed the talks between the two camps. The book alleged that shortly afterward, the Harris camp found out that Rogan spoke with Trump on his "personal day." 

The work mentioned that Harris aides "made a final stab, offering to let Rogan talk with the vice president in Washington, D.C." However, "Rogan’s team balked, citing the Austin-only condition." Allen and Parnes quoted Flaherty telling Rogan’s people, "You get one trip to Texas within three weeks of the election. You don’t get two."

Reps for Harris' campaign did not immediately reply to Fox News Digital's request for comment. 

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ESPN host Stephen A. Smith admitted that he and others who voted for Kamala Harris in November's election feel like "d--- fools," during an appearance on Real Time With Bill Maher on Friday. 

Smith made this declaration when discussing comparisons between Harris' campaign and Barack Obama's campaign in 2008. The sports pundit argued that the fact that Harris was not nominated via a legitimate primary, and the fact that she performed so poorly during her short stint in the 2020 Democratic primary, made her undesirable to voters.

Harris dropped out of the 2020 primary in 2019, before even reaching the Iowa caucus. She never received a single primary vote before being anointed the nominee in 2024.

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"Kamala Harris, who didn't resonate during the primaries in 2020, couldn't even get to Iowa, suddenly is the Democratic nominee, then you roll up to the convention in Chicago and everybody is like ‘She’s a rockstar!' So it's like ‘How’d that happen?" Smith said. 

"Yes I voted for her, a lot of people voted for her, but in the end, we end up feeling like d--- fools, because we supported it, we fell for the okiedoke as they say. If you had a primary, the likelihood is she would not have been the Democratic nominee." 

Smith has been a harsh internal critic of the Democratic Party during and after the 2020 election. 

During Friday's appearance on Maher's show, he scolded liberals for choosing not to campaign on issues that the American people were most concerned about, while admitting that Trump did, and was the closer candidate to the center of the political spectrum. 

STEPHEN A. SMITH REGRETS BACKING VP HARRIS, 'OPEN' TO VOTING GOP: 'NOT INTERESTED' IN THE 'FEAR MONGERING'

"Here’s the deal: the man was impeached twice, he was convicted on 34 felony counts, and the American people still said, ‘He’s closer to normal than what we see on the left,’" Smith said. 

During an interview with Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity days after Election Day, Smith insisted that the results were a referendum of the Democratic Party.

"I think that in light of those results we have to look at this election as a referendum on the Democratic Party. And America’s saying we’re not feeling where you are, we’re not feeling where you tried to go, we want no part of it, we’re not having it – and they made their choice and we all have to accept it," he said. 

During an interview on "The Will Cain Show" on the Thursday after the election, Smith delivered a scathing critique of the Democratic National Committee and its message ahead of Election Day and pointed to transgender issues as one of its weak points. 

"It’s such a strong tilt to the progressive left where we are talking about transgender issues and culture wars and identity politics and all of this stuff. We are sick of all of that. That makes total, total sense to me, and I’m good with it, even though I didn’t vote for [Trump]. I’m not as taken aback and feeling like nothing but gloom and doom and the world is coming to an end because the person I voted for didn’t win," Smith said. 

Smith has said multiple times that he would consider running for public office. After the results of the election, he has been one of the few figures in the liberal media to embrace the outcome of Trump's victory and has been heavily critical of left-wing figures like Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey and Jimmy Kimmel in their portrayal of Trump. 

Smith also did not rule out a possible presidential run for himself during an interview on "The View" the week after the election.

"I have no desire to be a congressional figure or a senator. But if you came to me and you told me I had a legitimate shot to win the presidency of the United States of America, I would definitely consider it," he said.

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EXCLUSIVE– Los Angeles Times owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong has made waves with his changes to the historically left-leaning newspaper, speaking in a new interview to Fox News Digital about why he quashed the editorial board's planned endorsement of Kamala Harris, how his staff is reacting to his changes and why he wants to appeal to Americans who don't reside in the liberal echo chamber. 

Soon-Shiong’s paper was attacked from the left last year after the editorial board did not endorse a presidential candidate for the first time since 2008. Soon-Shiong said he was not surprised by the backlash, which included high-profile staff resignations and the cancelation of thousands of subscriptions.

"I knew I'd get pushback. If you want to lead, you have to lead, so we took that position," Soon-Shiong told Fox News Digital. 

"Competence matters," he added. "And, you know, did we feel as a group that she was a competent leader?" 

LOS ANGELES TIMES OWNER ANNOUNCES PAPER WILL HAVE A NEW EDITORIAL BOARD SOON SO 'ALL VOICES ARE HEARD'

Soon-Shiong said he did not – and has yet to – see the "prepackaged endorsement" for Harris that he scrapped, and he was not aware it had been written when the decision was made to not endorse a candidate. 

"I worried [the endorsement] would actually express that she was maybe the most consequential vice president in the history of the United States, which may be the opinion of some people and may be laughed at by other people," Soon-Shiong said. 

"I thought, ‘Look, we can't do that.' We have to actually provide what we call factual basis for anything we’re going to actually endorse," he added. "It doesn't mean we don't endorse, but that's not the basis of how we would endorse."

The decision came down just weeks before the 2024 election. Shortly after the LA Times, Gannett, the publishing giant that owns USA Today and hundreds of other newspapers, and the Washington Post also opted not to endorse for president last year. Like the Post, the LA Times had only ever endorsed Democrats for president.

BILL MAHER MOCKS NEWSPAPER ENDORSEMENT UPROAR AT WAPO, LA TIMES: 'IT'S CHARMING THAT THEY THINK IT MATTERS'

While the Washington Post under Jeff Bezos won't endorse presidential candidates going forward, Soon-Shiong said the LA Times has not ruled out future presidential endorsements. He said the Times plays an important role in local elections, but he didn’t want the paper to serve as an "echo chamber" for liberal readers.

"We really need to be informed, honest, transparent, truthful, so that when anybody reads that, there's a basis for that endorsement," he said, adding, "Somebody had to stand up and take the heat, and I did. I'll probably still continue to take some heat. But I think it's important."

Soon-Shiong, an accomplished medical researcher and transplant surgeon, said he doesn’t regret the decision and feels the California wildfires have emphasized the importance of "competent leadership." He spoke out on X earlier this month about regretting the newspaper's backing of Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

"I really wanted to make sure that we are a trusted source for all Americans," Soon-Shiong said. "Clearly, California is blue, very blue. When our opinion pages were so one-sided, and these are just opinions, I wanted to make sure that everybody had a chance to voice their own opinion. And more importantly, opinion based on facts, not on speculation."

CONSERVATIVE COMMENTATOR SCOTT JENNINGS JOINS LA TIMES EDITORIAL BOARD AMID PAPER SHAKE-UP

One major change he's made was bringing conservative CNN commentator Scott Jennings on to the paper's editorial board, which infuriated some liberal media scribes, and he's planning to bring on more moderate and conservative voices to balance out the roster's liberal lean.

Soon-Shiong told Fox News Digital he was sick of seeing opinions about "speculative statements" written in a way that could appear as facts to the average reader. In November, Soon-Shiong wrote about the importance of sharing different opinions to promote media trust in the wake of President Donald Trump's victory.

Not to say it's been easy. The LA Times has not been immune to industry headwinds, laying off 115 people last year on the heels of eight-figure financial losses in 2023.

Soon-Shiong said it’s been a "struggle" to get the staff to buy into his vision of a paper that caters to readers on both sides of the political spectrum.

"Change is difficult, right? I respect that, and I have empathy for that," he said. 

"I think the strength of our paper is going to be investigative reporting and really going after the facts on the reporting side," Soon-Shiong added.

WILDFIRE DISASTER PROVES WHY 'COMPETENCE,' NOT PARTY, MATTERS IN ELECTING LEADERS: L.A. TIMES OWNER

He has visions to improve the outlet's coverage by having it evolve as a media platform, and the LA Times has won plaudits for its on-the-ground reporting on the devastating fires that continue to affect the region.

To achieve his goal to be a trusted resource for all Americans means grappling with the LA Times' historical ideological lean.

"We were and we are, if we're honest with ourselves, the editorial team and the reporting has been left, the opinion side has been left," he said. "Now within the news, sometimes it's opinions scattered into the news and so that gets confusing because the news is supposedly just facts." 

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"Every American's allowed to have a voice," he added. "But there should be really one set of facts. And that's the news."

Last month, his own paper published an interview with him and reported that "many Times reporters and editors rejected the notion that they inject opinion into their news reporting, saying they long labored to be impartial arbiters."

Former Vice President Kamala Harris’ future remains unclear months after her election loss to now-President Donald Trump.

As she grapples with navigating next steps, Harris has spoken with family and close friends, including the one other person who has been in her exact position: Hillary Clinton, New York Magazine reported. The two have reportedly spoken several times since Harris’ defeat.

Some have speculated that she will stage a gubernatorial run next year in California, as her close friend, Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom, is limited on terms and can’t run again. Others think she still has her eye on the Oval Office and will launch another bid for the presidency. Shortly after the election, Harris reportedly told advisors not to make any plans that would preclude her from seeking the presidency in 2028, according to New York Magazine.

The former vice president has not spoken directly about her future, but she has hinted that she’s not done with politics. Last week, just days before the end of her time as then-President Joe Biden’s VP, Harris addressed a room of staff as she participated in the decades-long tradition of signing her desk drawer. During her brief remarks, Harris said she would not "go quietly into the night," saying that "our work is not done."

The comments she made to staff echoed a message from her concession speech in which she told supporters, "While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign."

HARRIS FORMALLY CONCEDES ONE DAY AFTER TRUMP'S SWEEPING VICTORY

After her 2020 bid for the presidency failed, Harris was given a clear path forward as Biden's pick to be his running mate. While Biden seemed to imply that he would be a one-term president, he announced his re-election campaign in April 2023.

However, after a disastrous debate that highlighted ongoing issues, Biden made the historic decision to drop out of the race in July 2024. This was just one week after a gunman nearly killed Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania.

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Shortly after dropping out of the race, Biden endorsed his VP, moving her to the top of the ticket. Some believed this move could have hurt her prospects, as voters saw her nomination as a coronation, in stark contrast to the "save democracy" message channeled by the Democrats.

HOLLYWOOD FINDS FAILURE TO ELECT KAMALA HARRIS 'UNSETTLING': 'NOT THE DRIVER ANYMORE'

Harris and Clinton have more than election losses in common. Both were backed by a long list of Hollywood A-listers, whose endorsements ultimately did not help. Not even Taylor Swift could make the "Harris Era" happen.

"The outcome of this election is not what we hoped, not what we fought for, not what we voted for," Harris said in her concession speech. "But hear when I say … the light of America’s promise will always burn bright as long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting."

Vice President Kamala Harris, with just days left in office, assured staff that she would not "go quietly into the night" as she added her signature to a desk drawer in her ceremonial office.

"And I’m not going to go through the laundry list of all of our accomplishments. We know what they are. But I will tell you that everyone here has so much to be proud of, and our work is not done," Harris said. "And as you all know me, because we have spent long hours, long days, and months and years together, it is not my nature to go quietly into the night."

Harris is the first woman to take part in the decadeslong tradition of signing the drawer. The VP noted that she had met everyone who signed the desk, with the exceptions of Presidents Eisenhower and Truman.

COULD VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS MAKE A RUN FOR CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR IN 2 YEARS?

Once Harris signed the desk, the crowd of current and former staffers in attendance began chanting "MVP!"

"We have each taken on a life and a calling that is about doing work in the service of others and doing it in a way that is fueled, yes, with ambition; yes, with a sense of almost stubbornness about not hearing no; and knowing we can make a difference," Harris told her staff.

While Harris was taking part in a long-held tradition, her journey to that point was anything but traditional.

KAMALA HARRIS TRIES TO DEFINE WHAT IT MEANS TO WIN

After becoming America’s first female vice president in the middle of a pandemic, Harris, along with President Biden, oversaw years filled with crises from COVID-19 to crime, inflation and the border. In addition to the challenges of the Biden-Harris administration, the VP also faced frequent mocking for her "word salads."

Harris’ road to becoming the Democratic presidential nominee was also historic, as she took President Biden's place after he abruptly exited the 2024 race. Furthermore, the election cycle itself was full of controversies and multiple assassination attempts against now-President-elect Trump.

HARRIS TO OVERSEE CERTIFICATION OF HER DEFEAT TO TRUMP IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Following her crushing loss to Trump in November, Harris’ political future became murky. Some have speculated that she will run for California governor in 2026, as Gov. Gavin Newsom will not be able to seek a third term due to term limits. Others wonder if she’ll skip the gubernatorial bid and try again for the presidency in 2028.

Harris has not spoken publicly about her future, making Thursday’s comment the first on what she could be planning after Trump takes office.

The Democratic National Committee has hired the social media staffers who ran the @KamalaHQ account during Vice President Kamala Harris' failed presidential campaign, the organization announced Monday.

The social team will now focus on building a new @FactPostNews brand for the Democratic Party across X, Threads and Bluesky, with plans to expand to Facebook, Instagram, TikTok. The account will seek to counter so-called "misinformation" from President-elect Trump's administration in real time.

"The Republican disinformation machine is powerful, but we believe a stronger weapon is giving people the facts about how Trump and his administration are screwing over the American people," DNC chief mobilization officer Shelby Cole told Axios.

The DNC did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital on Monday morning.

JAMES CARVILLE CONCEDES HE WAS WRONG ABOUT KAMALA HARRIS' CHANCES: ‘IT WILL ALWAYS BE THE ECONOMY, STUPID’

The team's first set of marching orders will be to harass the confirmation process for Trump's cabinet nominees, namely by highlighting their personal wealth, according to Axios. An internal memo calls the nominees "unfit billionaire picks."

The new initiative comes as Democrats are re-evaluating their election strategies across the board following Trump's commanding victory in November.

KAMALA HARRIS' BUNGLED ANSWER ON ‘THE VIEW’ ABOUT BIDEN SEEN AS TURNING POINT FOR CAMPAIGN

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., conceded last week that Democrats should regard the 2024 election as a loss and reflect on what went wrong for the party after losing both the White House and Senate and failing to flip the House of Representatives.

Schumer appeared on NBC’s "Meet the Press," where he was asked about Democratic strategist James Carville’s assertion that the reason Democrats lost was because of "the economy, stupid."

"I told my caucus, and I’ll say it here, too… certainly it was a loss, but it’s also a challenge," Schumer said of the election.

Schumer said Democrats faced "severe headwinds" to win four of seven contested Democratic Senate seats, though conceded that "we did some things wrong and we have to look in the mirror and see what we did wrong."

"What we’re going to do is spend time talking to working families, showing them how much we care for them," Schumer added. "And not just talk about legislation, but talk about the conditions that have made so many working families worried about their futures."

Fox News' Stephen Sorace contributed to this report

CNN host Jake Tapper ripped President Biden on Sunday for what he described as a "nonsensical" claim during a recent conversation with reporters, which was that Vice President Kamala Harris could have beaten President-elect Donald Trump.

"Okay, first of all, just I think Kamala would have beaten Trump? She ran against him, and she lost, so that’s just nonsensical," Tapper said during "State of the Union."

Biden told reporters Friday that his decision to drop out was more about unifying the party, and said, "And I think that Kamala could’ve beaten Trump, would’ve beaten Trump," according to Mediaite. Biden has said multiple times he believes he would have won a general election against Trump.

"I think he was trying to backtrack after he’s been spending the last couple of months, like, basically dissing her," the CNN host added.

DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN WHO RAN AGAINST BIDEN CITING ‘PHYSICAL DECLINE’ DEFENDS HIS DECISION: ‘VINDICATION’

Former Biden communications aide Kate Bedingfield appeared to defend the president and said he was likely trying to give Harris "kudos" for running a strong campaign. 

"I think I would’ve beaten Trump, could’ve beaten Trump. And I think that Kamala could’ve beaten Trump, would’ve beaten Trump. It wasn’t about – I thought it was important to unify the party. And when the party was worried about whether or not I was going to be able to move, I thought, even though I thought I could win again, I thought it was better to unify the party," Biden told reporters on Friday.

Bedingfield said Tapper's analysis was unfair and said, "I think what he was trying to do there was acknowledge that she ran a strong race, that he was proud of her. That‘s that‘s how he articulated it."

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When asked in a USA Today interview if he would have won had he not dropped out on July 21, Biden replied, "It's presumptuous to say that, but I think yes." USA Today summarized that he continued by "adding he based that view on polling he had reviewed."

CNN poling guru Harry Enten said Biden's claims were nonsense.

"Based on the polling data, I categorize Biden's statement that he could have beaten Trump as ‘flat out bonkers,’" Enten wrote in a Wednesday X post. "Biden was well behind Trump when he dropped out. Biden never led in all of 2024. And no incumbent president who was anywhere near as unpopular as Biden has ever won."

"Why do I say that his statement is flat-out bonkers that he could have won the 2024 election if he had stayed in the race? Just take a look here," Enten added. 

He then showed the polling numbers from around the time Biden dropped out of the race, particularly in the Great Lake battleground states, where it was "Donald Trump ahead in all 3."

Fox News' Alexander Hall contributed to this report.

President-elect Trump trolled his political adversaries by posting a spoof of his conversation with former President Barack Obama on his Truth Social account, with the former president telling Trump, "I knew you’d win."

The video shows Trump and Obama trashing VP Kamala Harris’ doomed presidential campaign at former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral, with what appears to be AI-generated dialogue that mimics the pair’s voices.

The "conversation" begins after Obama takes his seat next to Trump, and the two presidents exchange pleasantries as a funeral dirge is sung in the background.

DAILY SHOW POKES FUN AT OBAMA LAUGHING WITH ‘FUTURE HITLER’ TRUMP DURING CARTER FUNERAL

 Quickly, the discussion moves toward Trump’s victory over Harris in the 2024 presidential campaign.

"I knew you’d win," Obama said in the video. 

"Come on," Trump replied, "Anyone could beat her."

The internet has been abuzz with speculation over what Trump and Obama were discussing ever since the video of the two having a friendly chat at Carter’s Jan. 9 funeral took social media by storm.

"It’s a little weird for Obama though, right? To go from ‘this guy is future Hitler’ to ‘oh, man, cool story, future Hitler!'" The Daily Show host Desi Lydic said in a segment mocking the incident. 

"It did look very friendly," Trump told Fox News' Peter Doocy at a Mar-a-Lago press conference after the funeral. "Boy, they look like two people who like each other, and we probably do… I don’t know we just got along."

In the spoof video, Obama proceeded to slam President Biden for stubbornly running for a second term, before ultimately being forced to drop out of the race following a disastrous debate performance in June 2024. 

"He just didn’t want to leave, I did what I could to help [Kamala], she was horrendous," Obama said to a smirking Trump. 

WHAT WERE OBAMA AND TRUMP SAYING TO EACH OTHER?

The video continues with the president-elect telling Obama he realized that Hillary Clinton still "hates" and will "never forgive" him, before cutting away to a stone-faced HRC.

The parody concludes with the two presidents making plans to meet when Kamala Harris and her husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, enter the church and take their seats in the row in front of them. 

"You see that, she won’t even look at me," Obama said.

Trump has been known to use social media to needle his political opponents. Trump trolled Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau by posting a map that showed Canada as part of the United States with the caption "Oh Canada!" to his Truth Social account on Tuesday Jan. 7.

The Los Angeles Police Department responded to a potential burglary call at Vice President Harris' home in Brentwood, California, located within the Palisades Fire evacuation zone early Sunday, according to local reports. 

The LAPD confirmed to KTLA that officers detained two people at Harris' home while the 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. local time curfew was in effect. 

A call reporting the potential burglary at Harris' property on Bundy Drive, north of Sunset Drive, came into the West Los Angeles station around 4:40 a.m., KTLA reported. Officers responded to the scene and found two men in the area.

According to KTLA, the LAPD initially detained the two individuals for breaking curfew but have since released them, reporting that no evidence suggested a crime was being committed. 

DEATH TOLL FROM CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES RISES TO 16: LA MEDICAL EXAMINER

KNBC reported that the two men were not on Harris' property when they were detained and that there was no evidence that they had entered the vice president's property. 

One law enforcement source told KNBC, "they likely had no idea where they were."

CALIFORNIANS 'ANGRY' AMID DEVASTATING WILDFIRES, ASKING WHERE HIGH TAX DOLLARS WENT: LOCAL RESEARCHER

It's unclear why the pair was in the area near Harris' property and whether the matter would be investigated further.

Fox News Digital reached out to the LAPD for comment early Sunday but did not immediately hear back. 

KNBC reported that Harris' home is guarded by the U.S. Secret Service with assistance from the California Highway Patrol and the LAPD's Metropolitan Division, Dignitary Protection Detail.

The Palisades Fire pushed toward Brentwood on Saturday as high winds were expected to return, complicating the response. According to CAL Fire's latest update, the Palisades Fire is 11% contained and has burned 23,707 acres. 

As of Sunday morning, the Los Angeles County medical examiner reported the California wildfire death toll climbed to at least 16 people, including five who died in the Palisades Fire. 

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

During the 2024 campaign cycle, Americans witnessed what appeared to be no love lost between President-elect Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama.

However, at former President Jimmy Carter's funeral the two recent presidents appeared to be enjoying each other’s company and largely ignored other dignitaries arriving around them, including Vice President Kamala Harris and President Biden.

Susan Constantine, a communication and body language expert, said Harris came off "as cool as could be."

"'Ice Princess' all the way around. When she was walking she was very robotic. I call that ‘rigidity’ when we see that kind of soldier-like stance."

HARRIS, EMHOFF APPEAR TO IGNORE TRUMP, OBAMA, AS OUTGOING VEEP GRIMACES AT PRESIDENTIAL BANTER

Harris deliberately averted eye contact with Trump, in a sign of disdain. The tension of her facial expression, with pursed lips tightened toward the center showed there was "no love lost" between the two 2024 contenders.

"She intentionally walked past him and a stride of arrogance and confidence that did not look well on her," Constantine said. "[It] tells me that she walked in there with a chip on her shoulder."

Another attendee who appeared to be more muted than normal was former First Lady Laura Bush.

Constantine said Mrs. Bush has always been known for her outgoing personality, but noted she did not greet the Trumps or Obama to her left.

"I think that she's just always been such a beautiful, eloquent woman that always has a genuine smile and appears to be very cordial. So I'm going to give her the benefit of the doubt," Constantine said, adding she saw Bush look over her right shoulder only briefly to make eye contact – potentially with Al Gore or the Quayles.

However, Constantine said there was one interaction that very much stood out: Trump’s jovial conversation and gesticulations with Barack Obama.

TRUMP CHATS UP OBAMA WHILE CLINTONS, HARRIS IGNORE PRESIDENT-ELECT AT CARTER WAKE

"They add rapport. There was no doubt about it."

"President Obama would lean his head towards him listening to what Trump had to say. Trump was always in that forward stance. He was always ready, engaging. And he and President Obama and Trump felt very much like this with one another that may have made the rest of [the presidential attendees] feel a bit uncomfortable."

However, there was a moment where Trump appeared to be talking about something Obama appeared to wish was held til after the somber event. 

Trump appeared to give a "thumb shrug" to Obama, as if to ask "what do you think about this?"

Obama’s furrowed brow and "neutral expression" showed he was listening intently but that the men were having an "intense conversation," said Constantine.

The New York Post reported a lip-reader suggested the two were discussing "international agreements" which would therefore require such sensitivity.

When asked about Gore appearing to make a point to be first to stand and greet Trump, as well as others, Constantine said that would denote the Tennessean showing respect and being a "perfect gentleman."

Trump passed the Quayles without either member of the second family under President George H.W. Bush standing up, but Gore quickly rose to shake hands.

The longtime Democrat was likely putting politics aside when greeting the Republican president-elect, she said.

George W. Bush’s "belly tap" of Obama made the rounds on X after the ceremony.

"When you tap somebody on the stomach, that's where all your emotions are. And when you touch someone in that, it’s a personal zone. You’ve got to feel pretty comfortable to be able to do that. You have to feel very comfortable with that relationship in order to do that," she said of Bush, who notably has indeed had a civil relationship with the man who repeatedly criticized him in 2008.

Bush also notably reached back to playfully swat Vice President Dan Quayle with his bulletin as he took his seat.

That could be a sign Bush was uncomfortable, or just a less intimate or playful greeting.

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The Clintons and Bidens notably arrived without actively greeting the rest of the assembled dignitaries. Hillary Clinton had an "incredulous" facial expression that she has shown before, Constantine said.

"If you could hone-in on Hillary, you'll see the dimples on both sides of her mouth make that incredulous expression that she’s got.

Overall, Constantine said, when people go to funerals, they act differently and usually say hello to everyone no matter past differences – and that sentiment could play into the interactions seen Thursday.

Meanwhile, the forensic lip reader – expert witness Jeremy Freeman – told the New York Post that Trump appeared to tell Obama the two should find a "quiet place" soon to discuss "a matter of importance."

 "I’ve pulled out of that. It’s the conditions. Can you imagine that?" Trump said at one point, according to Freeman.

Freeman also indicated it appeared Trump asked Obama to call him after the funeral mass to discuss the issue or issues further.

The moment sparked a different tone between the two men, as Trump previously made light of allegations Obama is a Muslim, referring to him by his full name that includes the middle-name Hussein.

Obama has also taken shots at Trump over the years, including during the 2024 campaign when he appeared to reference Trump’s private parts with a joke about crowd sizes while gesturing with his hands a few inches apart.

He also compared Trump’s stump speeches to the rambling, hourslong diatribes by the late Cuban Communist leader Fidel Castro:

"You have the two-hour speeches, the word salad. It’s like Fidel Castro over and over again," Obama told a crowd in Allegheny County, Pa. in October.

FIRST ON FOX: As fires rage in California, the largest firefighter union in North America threw its support behind South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem for secretary of the Department of Homeland Security after notably remaining politically neutral in the 2024 election cycle. 

"We support President Trump’s nomination of Governor Kristi Noem for Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. As a Governor, nominee Noem understands emergency management and the importance of government response to emergencies both natural and man-made," International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) General President Edward Kelly wrote in a letter to Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Gary Peters, D-Mich., the respective chair and ranking member on the Senate Committee on Homeland Security.

"She has earned broad support from law enforcement unions, and we join many other organizations in calling for her speedy confirmation."

The IAFF's letter of endorsement for Noem comes as multiple fires rip through Los Angeles County, causing at least five deaths, widespread damage and the evacuation of more than 100,000 residents. Fox News Digital exclusively obtained the IAFF's endorsement on Thursday. 

'NO TIME TO PLAY': SENATE MUST QUICKLY CONFIRM NOEM AS DHS CHIEF IN WAKE OF TERROR ATTACK, SAYS LOUISIANA GOV

"There is no greater government service than public safety. The members of IAFF are proud to serve our communities, and we look forward to working with Governor Noem and the Department of Homeland Security in the years ahead," the union chief said. 

The IAFF represents 353,000 members who protect more than 85% of the communities living in both the U.S. and Canada. The DHS oversees a number of national security and law enforcement agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Secret Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

NOEM BOASTS OUTPOURING OF POLICE, BORDER UNION SUPPORT FOR DHS CHIEF: CURRENT LEADERS 'BETRAYED US'

The IAFF's endorsement of Noem comes after the union notably decided against endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris or Trump ahead of the general election. 

"The IAFF Executive Board determined that we are better able to advocate for our members and make progress on the issues that matter to them if we, as a union, are standing shoulder-to-shoulder. This decision, which we took very seriously, is the best way to preserve and strengthen our unity," Kelly said in an October statement declaring the union would remain neutral during the election. 

A source familiar with Noem's nomination process highlighted the timing of the IAFF'S endorsement amid the raging California fires, saying the urgency behind its Noem support shows firefighters know "it’s important that President Trump have his whole team in place as quickly as possible to keep America safe from all threats."

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT KRISTI NOEM, THE 'BORDER HAWK' NOMINATED BY TRUMP TO LEAD DHS

"The whole country can see the horrible wildfires ravaging Southern California, and so it really says something that the firefighters union felt the urgency to stand up for Gov. Noem at this moment in time," the source said.

"These firefighters are the bravest of the brave, and they know that it’s important that President Trump have his whole team in place as quickly as possible to keep America safe from all threats, and to be in place for disaster response.

"Their endorsement solidifies the public safety support around Gov. Noem, since she’s also been endorsed by police organizations and the border patrol union. The message is clear — she should be confirmed as rapidly as possible." 

Noem's Senate confirmation hearing with the Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs is scheduled for Wednesday, kicking off at 9 a.m. 

Noem is heading into the final leg of the confirmation process armed with support from law enforcement unions and groups. At least eight police groups or unions have sent letters to Paul calling for a speedy confirmation process, including a union that represents thousands of Border Patrol agents. 

EX-TRUMP OFFICIAL PREDICTS ‘ENTIRE MINDSET CHANGE’ AT SOUTHERN BORDER, HAILS ‘FANTASTIC’ PICK TO LEAD DHS 

"On behalf of the men and women of the National Border Patrol Council (NBPC) who protect our nation's borders, we are excited to provide our support for President-elect Trump’s nominee, Governor Kristi Noem, to be the next Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security," National Border Patrol Council President Paul Perez wrote in a letter last month in support of Noem. 

TRUMP'S ‘BORDER CZAR’ WARNS DEM GOVS REJECTING TRUMP DEPORTATION PLAN: ‘GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY’

Law enforcement groups that have endorsed Noem include the National Fraternal Order of Police, the largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers in the U.S.; the National Association of Police Organizations; the International Union of Police Associations; the Toledo Police Patrolman’s Association; International Union of Police Associations Local 6020; the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association; the Police Officers Association of Michigan; and the National Border Patrol Council. 

Republican Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry also called on Senate lawmakers, most notably Democrats, to swiftly confirm Noem after a terrorist attack that shook New Orleans on New Year's Day. 

"This is no time to play around," Landry said in a statement earlier this week. "Which is why I am also calling on Senate Democrats on the Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee to allow Kristi Noem to get to work on Day 1 as our Secretary of Homeland Security. There should be no gap in leadership. In the wake of the Bourbon Street and Las Vegas attacks, our nation’s security depends on her quick confirmation."

Trump announced Noem as his pick to lead DHS shortly after his decisive win over Harris at the ballot boxes, citing the Republican governor's efforts to secure the southern border, which has been overwhelmed by illegal crossings under the Biden administration. 

"Kristi has been very strong on Border Security. She was the first Governor to send National Guard Soldiers to help Texas fight the Biden Border Crisis, and they were sent a total of eight times. She will work closely with ‘Border Czar’ Tom Homan to secure the Border, and will guarantee that our American Homeland is secure from our adversaries. I have known Kristi for years, and have worked with her on a wide variety of projects – She will be a great part of our mission to Make America Safe Again," Trump wrote in his announcement on Nov. 12. 

Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Douglas Emhoff appeared to ignore the two most recent former presidents at President Jimmy Carter's funeral at the Washington National Cathedral.

A uniformed officer led Harris and Emhoff to their seats on the first row, stage left, but as Harris entered the row, she paused to let Emhoff pass her to sit on the end, closest to the Trumps.

TRUMP CHATS UP OBAMA WHILE CLINTONS, HARRIS IGNORE PRESIDENT-ELECT AT CARTER WAKE

Unlike when former President George W. Bush arrived and received greetings from the Quayles, Al Gore and the Pences, there was not much movement when Harris and Emhoff arrived.

President-elect Trump and former President Barack Obama, who shared several minutes of conversation as the other first and second families arrived, remained facing generally forward as the current second couple arrived.

Former first lady Laura Bush could be seen seated behind Harris as well.

JIMMY CARTER DEAD AT 100

As Harris took her seat, she appeared to notice Obama speaking behind her, and turned to see her fellow Democrat engaging with the Florida man who defeated her in November.

Harris appeared to grimace, before facing forward again with, briefly, a strained look on her face.

At first, Harris paged through her funeral program as Emhoff looked around at the rafters of the majestic Episcopal church.

Harris later whispered in Emhoff's ear as she looked at her program. As the outgoing first family arrived, Harris appeared to offer a brief word to first lady Jill Biden.

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One former second lady, Marilyn Quayle, was seated on the aisle in the third row behind the Clintons, and former second lady Karen Pence was seated next to her husband, former Vice President Mike Pence.

Both Lynne Cheney and Michelle Obama were absent. Tipper Gore has been separated from her Tennessee Democrat husband for more than a decade, and also was not seen at the service.

Bill Maher appeared on an episode of the "Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade" podcast on Wednesday, where the three comedians got into a discussion about the media's lack of coverage around Doug Emhoff's #MeToo accusations, and "Saturday Night Live" ignoring them completely.

The podcasters welcomed Maher and recounted the SNL skit last month where Spade returned to the show to play Hunter Biden, while Carvey portrayed his old character "Church Lady." Spade expressed surprise that the troubled son of the president hadn't been lampooned before.

Spade said he "was always curious as to why they never had anyone play Hunter Biden. It was just sort of ripe for the pickings," adding, "I thought of maybe a hot-tub talk show with guests and girls."

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Maher then flipped the conversation to other missed opportunities by SNL, asking "How about, why didn’t they make fun of Kamala’s husband when he got 'me-too’d'?," adding that "it is amazing the way this country is so partisan, including in the media and the entertainment parts of it, that when something happens for your team that’s bad, it’s like, you know, the angel of death just flying over the house on Passover. Like, ‘we don’t see a thing here.’ Because, you know, Doug Emhoff was credibly accused of things that others have been accused of."

Spade followed up by noting, "Yeah, and that wasn’t plastered everywhere."

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Maher criticized SNL for having Andy Sandberg portray Emhoff as a "funny kind-of dorky Doug" when the allegations against him were "as credible as many other accusations I've heard."

A report emerged during the presidential campaign that Emhoff had once slapped his ex-girlfriend in 2012, which a spokesperson denied. The second gentleman also admitted that he had an affair during his first marriage.

Maher added that "it’s just wrong, you know? If you're going to make fun of people, go both sides, don’t play that game, I don’t like that," alluding to SNL refusing to make fun of certain politicians on the left while constantly going after politicians on the right.

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Carvey played President Biden during the 2024 campaign on SNL, often lampooning his age and moments of confusion. In 2020, the show openly supported Biden's bid for the presidency but mocked him with more fervor in the most recent election season.

"They went for it because I guess he wasn’t running anymore, but the rules all changed after Biden was no longer the nominee, they became a lot looser with it," Carvey said.