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Nurse Fined After Wishing Birth Injuries on Karoline Leavitt

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Nurse Fined After Wishing Birth Injuries on Karoline Leavitt

A Florida nurse who publicly said she hoped Karoline Leavitt would suffer severe childbirth injuries has been recommended for a relatively minor disciplinary penalty.

The Florida Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH) recommended that Alexis Lawler be fined $250 and complete education addressing the risks of social media use. The recommendation followed a TikTok video in which Lawler said she hoped the former White House press secretary experienced a “fourth degree tear.”

Lawler posted the video when Leavitt, 28, was about five months pregnant with her second child.

Following the backlash, Lawler was fired from her position at Baptist Health Boca Raton Regional Hospital, and her nursing license was temporarily suspended.

Still, the DOAH did not recommend permanently revoking Lawler’s nursing license. The Florida Board of Nursing will make the final determination on any sanctions.

During the hearing, Lawler, 56, said the TikTok was protected speech under the First Amendment and was intended to express her discontent with the government. She also noted that she did not identify her employer in the video.

Administrative Judge Robert Cohen, however, sharply criticized the comments in his recommendation, describing Lawler’s language as “vile.”

“As a nurse who has been recognized by her employer for her compassion, skill, and caring nature for her patients, directing such a specific, intrusive, vile outcome to a specific individual demonstrates a total lack of compassion and professionalism towards a person she has never even met,” Cohen wrote.

A disciplinary board recommended the lightest punishment for nurse Alexis Lawler who wished horrific birthing injuries on Karoline Leavitt

A disciplinary board has recommended the lowest-level punishment for nurse Alexis Lawler after she said she hoped Karoline Leavitt would suffer traumatic childbirth injuries.

Leavitt, the former US press secretary, was pregnant with her second child when Lawler said she hoped she would experience a serious medical complication during labor.

Lawler has been a licensed nurse since 2014 and has worked at two hospitals in Florida: St. Mary’s in West Palm Beach, and most recently Baptist Health Boca Raton. 

Lawler posted a video on her public TikTok account in January, in which she said: ‘As a labor and delivery nurse, it gives me great joy to wish Karoline Leavitt a fourth-degree tear. 

‘I hope that you f***ing rip from bow to stern and never s**t normally again, you c**t.’

A fourth degree tear is a serious medical complication during birth requiring surgical intervention. 

Baptist Health received numerous complaints, including one from Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer. The hospital confirmed to Singer that Lawler no longer worked at the hospital, he shared on X January 22. 

The DOAH weighed several factors whilst determining whether Lawler’s statements are connected with her ability to perform her job, and whether her license should be revoked. 

Lawler was accused of violating the Florida statute related to ‘using abusive, threatening or foul language in front of a patient or directing such language toward a patient.’

The nurse claimed that she was expressing frustrations with the current administration and exercising her First Amendment rights, DOAH documents showed.

In the now-deleted video, Lawler said it would give her 'great joy' if Leavitt had 'a fourth-degree tear', a serious medical complication that can arise during childbirth

In the now-deleted video, Lawler said it would give her ‘great joy’ if Leavitt had ‘a fourth-degree tear’, a serious medical complication that can arise during childbirth

Leavitt was pregnant with her second child when Lawler posted the inflammatory TikTok

Leavitt was pregnant with her second child when Lawler posted the inflammatory TikTok

According to the documents, she said: ‘I made this video exercising my First Amendment right to free speech on my own time in my own home.’ 

Cohen wrote that Lawler’s TikTok account being public was a factor and the matter would be treated differently if Lawler shared the video with family and friends over text rather than on a public social media page, court filings showed. 

Lawler has not had any prior disciplinary actions taken on her license, and has never been accused of treating a patient differently because of their political beliefs, court documents showed. 

Two unnamed Baptist Health patients testified to the DOAH: one of them had Lawler as a nurse, and the other overheard two other nurses at Baptist Health discuss the viral video while she was in the hospital.

Cohen wrote in his recommendation that Lawler: ‘Has learned from this experience, a costly one in terms of her losing her employment of many years with Baptist Health.’

The case will now go on to be reviewed by the Florida Board of Nurses to determine the final outcome. 

Following her termination, a spokesman for Baptist Health Boca Raton told CBS 12 at the time: ‘The comments made in a social media video by a nurse at one of our facilities do not reflect our values or the standards we expect of healthcare professionals.

Lawler worked at Baptist Health Regional Hospital in Boca Raton, Florida for over a decade with no prior violations to her record aside from a minor parking issue, the hearing noted

Lawler worked at Baptist Health Regional Hospital in Boca Raton, Florida for over a decade with no prior violations to her record aside from a minor parking issue, the hearing noted

‘Following a prompt review, the individual is no longer employed by our health system. While we respect the right to personal opinions, there is no place in healthcare for language or behavior that calls into question a caregiver’s ability to provide compassionate, unbiased care.’ 

Lawler’s husband, Tim, organized a GoFundMe fundraiser for his wife when she first got fired from Baptist Health nine months ago. 

Going forward, Lawler intends to use the donations for ‘civil rights counsel so Lexie can defend herself without being financially bullied into silence,’ according to the GoFundMe.

The GoFundMe description reads: ‘Lexie Lawler was fired for political speech. She is a liberal woman who used her personal social media — on her own time — to sharply criticize a public figure tied to a cruel, harmful administration. Her words were blunt, angry, and unapologetic. They were directed at power, not her workplace.’ 

The Daily Mail has reached out to Lawler, the White House Press Office and the Florida Board of Nursing for comment. 

Man Accused of Killing Father, Returning to Confirm Death Faces Trial

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Man Accused of Killing Father, Returning to Confirm Death Faces Trial

Inset: Gregory Juedes (Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office). Background: News footage of the Appleton home where Daniel Juedes Sr. was killed (WBAY).

A Wisconsin man accused of shooting and killing his father is scheduled to go to trial in early 2027.

Gregory Juedes, 47, faces a charge of first-degree intentional homicide in the death of his father, 74-year-old Daniel Juedes Sr. A criminal complaint reviewed by Law&Crime says a neighbor called police at 7:35 a.m. on Nov. 24, 2024, reporting a “disturbance with a weapon” at the Juedes family home in Appleton, Wisconsin. The neighbor told dispatchers he watched a white BMW leave the residence, return briefly, and then drive away again.

Officers arriving at the home reported smelling gunpowder. Inside a bedroom, they found Daniel Juedes dead on the floor.

According to the complaint, an officer used a PIT maneuver to stop the vehicle, whose driver was identified as Gregory Juedes. Authorities said he then ran from the vehicle and was eventually physically subdued by several law enforcement officers. During the confrontation, Gregory Juedes allegedly attempted to reach for a lieutenant’s weapon.

Police took Gregory Juedes to a hospital for treatment after his arrest. While riding in the ambulance, the complaint alleges, he made unsolicited statements to officers, including: “I think I got him with every round. And then one in the back of the head for good measure.”

He allegedly went on to say, “I went back to check and kicked him in the a— [to] make sure he was down for the count.”

Investigators said they recovered a Canik TP9SFx firearm from Gregory Juedes’ vehicle.

Along with the homicide allegation, Gregory Juedes is charged with fleeing or eluding an officer in a vehicle and resisting or obstructing an officer. His trial is set to begin Feb. 7, 2027. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Jan. 22, 2027.

The post Man who allegedly gunned down his father, then went back to the scene to ‘make sure he was down for the count,’ was ordered to face trial first appeared on Law & Crime.

Aaron Rodgers Takes Aim at Exes as Shailene Woodley Continues to Thrive

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Aaron Rodgers Takes Aim at Exes as Shailene Woodley Continues to Thrive

Aaron rodgers at football game

Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images

Aaron Rodgers is making headlines after delivering blunt remarks about several of his former relationships. During a September 10 appearance on the “Not Just Football” podcast, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback argued that his past partners received their greatest public attention while dating him. “The height of their fame was when they were with me. They get clicks when they say my name,” Rodgers said. He also addressed his relationship with retired NASCAR driver Danica Patrick, saying her post-retirement struggles created tension between them. “She had just retired. She was depressed and not fun to be around, but I didn’t leave her because I was trying to be there and be a good partner,” he said. However, Rodgers’ comments about Shailene Woodley proved even more explosive.

Rodgers alleged that difficulties emerged soon after he and Woodley became engaged. “I date Shailene, I propose, and she says yes,” he said. “But not a couple of days after that, she tells me before we get married, like, ‘I got to go f*** this guy.’” The pair announced their engagement in December 2020, though Rodgers claimed the relationship began unraveling within months. According to the quarterback, the “Divergent” actor had removed her engagement ring by March 2021 and was ultimately the person who ended the engagement.

The timing of Rodgers’ sharp comments about his former fiancée was notable. Just days earlier, Woodley had enjoyed a major career moment, collecting her first Emmy for playing Annie in Hulu’s “Paradise.” She marked the occasion in a striking white minidress, delivering what was widely seen as one of her strongest red-carpet appearances in years. Woodley has previously spoken about recognizing warning signs during her relationship with Rodgers.

READ MORE: Mel Gibson Seen With Daughter 16 Years After Infamous Rant

Shailene Woodley was unhappy during time with Aaron Rodgers

Shailene Woodley and Aaron Rodgers

Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty

Woodley publicly confirmed her engagement to Rodgers on “The Tonight Show” in February 2021, though he had proposed several months earlier. Their relationship ended roughly a year later. At the time, a source told InTouch that Woodley believed football had taken priority over their partnership. “While Shailene is supportive of Aaron’s career, he put football first and they were barely spending any time together,” the source said in February 2022. “She felt he neglected their relationship. Neither of them was happy.”

In a February 2024 interview with Outside, Woodley described that chapter of her life in deeply personal terms. “I felt like I lost my soul, my self, my happiness, my joy,” she said of the period when she was involved with Rodgers. “That was the lowest low of my life.” Reflecting on the relationship became emotional for the “The Descendants” star, who said, “I haven’t shared much about my relationship with Aaron because it … always makes me cry,” as the interviewer noted that she had welled up. Still, Woodley said the experience was not without meaning: “It was not right. But it was beautiful.”

Later in 2024, Woodley discussed how heartbreak had reshaped the way she approaches romance. Without naming Rodgers, she told Bustle in September that she had repeatedly found herself drawn to emotionally unavailable partners. “Just a broken heart. A broken heart that healed and broke again. I fell in love over and over with unavailability,” she said.

CIA Declassifies Dozens of Previously Unseen 9/11 Documents

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CIA Declassifies Dozens of Previously Unseen 9/11 Documents

Washington — The CIA on Friday declassified 71 intelligence reports produced in the months and years before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, offering a fresh account of what the agency warned Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush about al Qaeda and its leader, Osama bin Laden, before the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.

The collection includes analyst assessments written for the President’s Daily Brief, the classified intelligence summary delivered to the president and top administration officials. Released alongside ceremonies marking 25 years since the attacks, the archive contains 70 reports written before Sept. 11, 2001, and one from the following day. Two of the records had previously surfaced during the congressional 9/11 Commission investigation.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe described the disclosure as “the single largest release of CIA analysis related to 9/11 ever.”

“25 years ago, the 9/11 attacks struck a blow to our Nation, but they did not break us. Generations of CIA officers have since dedicated their careers to securing justice for our fallen Americans and ensuring al-Qa’ida would never again harm our country,” Ratcliffe said in a statement.

What’s in the new 9/11 documents?

Osama bin Laden in an interview with CNN from a cave hideout somewhere in Afghanistan on Aug. 20, 1998.

Osama bin Laden in an interview with CNN from a cave hideout somewhere in Afghanistan on Aug. 20, 1998. 

CNN / Getty Images

The newly released material underscores how extensively the CIA had tracked bin Laden and his network’s stated ambition to attack the United States before 9/11. The assessments appeared in daily intelligence briefings prepared for Clinton and Bush. Nearly every document released Friday contains redactions.

The oldest report, dated Feb. 13, 1998, said bin Laden and other Islamic extremists “met [redacted] and agreed to procure unspecified chemical, biological, and nuclear substances from open markets.” It added that bin Laden possessed “legitimate companies, business relationships, and a financial empire” that could help support his pursuit of such weapons.

Bin Laden and his fighters operated from Afghanistan under Taliban protection. Multiple reports outline the Taliban’s reasons for sheltering him while also describing his purportedly expanding influence in Afghanistan’s drug trade. An October 1999 assessment said he had “made a substantial investment in 57 narcotics laboratories associated with” Taliban leader Mullah Omar and had enlisted specialists “to develop more addictive drugs — possibly ecstasy or methamphetamine.” The 9/11 Commission later concluded, however, that there was “no reliable evidence that Bin Ladin was involved in or made his money through drug trafficking.”

A separate February 1998 report said bin Laden and others had issued a fatwa urging “all Muslims to attack US interests and civilians worldwide” until the United States “retreats” from Saudi Arabia and “Palestine.”

One particularly stark memo, dated Sept. 10, 1998, warned that extremists “may fly an explosive-packed airplane into a US city.” The assessment cautioned that the intelligence at hand “provides no conclusive information on Bin Ladin’s intentions for future attacks,” but noted that he had said his preferred course was to strike the United States “on its own soil in Washington.”

An excerpt from the September 1998 memo.

An excerpt from the September 1998 memo.

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CIA

The final report of the 9/11 Commission appeared to reference that memo. The commission concluded that the Counterterrorist Center did not go on to “analyze how an aircraft, hijacked or explosives-laden, might be used as a weapon.” Such an examination, it said, “would soon have spotlighted a critical constraint for the terrorists — finding a suicide operative able to fly large jet aircraft.”

Reports from the summer of 2001 detail murky intelligence about a potential plot to strike inside the U.S. At that point, the “system was blinking red,” as then-CIA Director George Tenet told the 9/11 Commission. One memo from July 24 said that “[redacted] indicates that an expected imminent Bin Ladin-sponsored terrorist operation has been postponed, but preparations for other near-term attacks may still be in train.”

Friday’s release included the infamous memo titled “Bin Ladin Determined To Strike in US” from August 2001, which was declassified in 2004 at the request of the 9/11 Commission. The memo said that FBI information “indicates patterns of suspicious activity in this country consistent with preparations for hijackings or other types of attacks, including recent surveillance of federal buildings in New York.” 

In its report, the 9/11 Commission said the August memo “was the 36th PDB item briefed so far that year that related to Bin Ladin or al Qaeda, and the first devoted to the possibility of an attack in the United States.” Friday’s release includes 18 items dated from the Bush administration before the attacks, meaning at least some of the PDB material from the lead-up remains secret.

A former senior intelligence official said numerous PDB items warning about the threat as far back 1996 and even earlier were not included in Friday’s disclosure, nor were a number of additional pieces from 2001. 

The 9/11 Commission found that “[m]ost of the intelligence community recognized in the summer of 2001 that the number and severity of threat reports were unprecedented. Many officials told us that they knew something terrible was planned, and they were desperate to stop it.”

The final document included in the CIA’s release on Friday is dated Sept. 12, 2001, the day after planes smashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania. The “situation report” described the latest intelligence surrounding bin Laden in the run-up to the attack, including details about his likely involvement.

“Mounting evidence indicates Sunni extremists in Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf recently were aware Usama Bin Ladin-directed attacks were imminent,” the report said. “[Redacted] the existence of a probable operation was widely known among extremists in Afghanistan and speculated Bin Ladin may have relocated to Kabul to avoid conflict over his activities with the Taliban leadership in Kandahar.”

The memo said that bin Laden and the Taliban’s Omar “clashed over Bin Ladin’s determination to mount terrorist attacks” in August 2001. 

“Bin Ladin told Mullah Omar he had operations in progress that would cause great damage to the US,” the memo said.

The report also said that “[a] Kandahar-based Arab yesterday said the attacks were the result of two years’ planning and were ‘the beginning of the wrath,’ [redacted] suggest the Capitol and the White House also may have been targets of the operations.”

The 9/11 Commission report determined that “failures of imagination, policy, capabilities, and management” contributed to the government’s inability to stop the 9/11 attacks before they happened, and that “the most important failure was one of imagination.”

Trump Signals Concern Over Midterm Losses While Insisting Outlook ‘Not as Dire’

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Trump Signals Concern Over Midterm Losses While Insisting Outlook ‘Not as Dire’

President Donald Trump has indicated he will not devote his full energy to campaigning, appearing instead to accept the prospect of becoming a lame-duck president in 2027 and pursuing agreements with Democrats.

For observers who have followed his remarks closely, that stance may not be unexpected.

Since late last year, Trump has repeatedly pointed to the longstanding political pattern in which a president’s party loses support in the midterms, often allowing the opposition to take control of Congress.

He has said presidents rarely defy that trend and has at times questioned whether Republicans can overcome history in this election cycle.

That context made his response less surprising when Fox News host Laura Ingraham asked whether he would ‘campaign harder than you’ve ever campaigned’ this month.

‘No,’ Trump replied quickly. ‘The hardest I ever campaigned, because I had to win, was the last. I took four months, no empty days, no empty hours. I made speeches all day.’

Trump said he did not take a day off during the final 120 days of the 2024 campaign.

‘But isn’t this just as important, Mr President? I mean, your whole legacy is on the line,’ Ingraham responded, appearing taken aback by his relaxed approach.

President Donald Trump

Fox News host Laura Ingraham

Trump said he will not campaign as hard as possible this month, even as Republicans face weak polling and difficult odds of retaining control of Congress.

Trump sitting with his eyes closed at a 9/11 ceremony at the Pentagon on Friday morning. He returned to the White House around 3:00 am local time after attending a GOP convention in Dallas

Trump sits with his eyes closed during a 9/11 ceremony at the Pentagon on Friday morning. He returned to the White House at about 3:00 a.m. local time after attending a GOP convention in Dallas.

‘It’s never as important,’ Trump contended.

As the president would explain, he will be remembered for being a president who blocked Democratic priorities in his final two years. 

He would strike the occasional deal with the liberals too, he added. 

ALSO READ: Billy Porter Updates Fans After Near-Fatal Sepsis Battle

‘Look, I’m campaigning for other people. When you say my legacy, I’ll be a block. I’ll end up being a blocker. I’ll block all their bad stuff for two years,’ he said. 

‘It won’t be the same, but I’ll be a blocker. What can I tell you? And probably be able to make deals with them.’

When the camera briefly cut back to the host, she had a surprised look on her face with her mouth hanging open. 

Trump continued: ‘They’re going to want some stuff, and you to make deals; it’s one of those things.’

‘So, it’s not as dire,’ he said, quickly adding, ‘maybe it is?’

According to the popular prediction market Kalshi, Republicans have a 52 percent chance of retaining the Senate. Democrats need to flip four seats to do so. 

Some of Trump's allies in Congress have expressed concern about Republicans' chances in the midterms. But the president is already seemingly resigned to that fate, talking openly about negotiating with Democrats

Some of Trump’s allies in Congress have expressed concern about Republicans’ chances in the midterms. But the president is already seemingly resigned to that fate, talking openly about negotiating with Democrats

Meanwhile, Democrats have a commanding 86 percent chance of winning the House of Representatives. 

Should Democrats win both chambers of Congress, they would be able to jam through legislation to undo the president’s agenda without Republican votes. 

They would also likely begin sweeping investigations into Trump, his administration, his associates and likely his network of businesses. 

Though Trump seems unconcerned now with the possibility of Democratic control of Congress, he may feel differently when his top military and Cabinet officials start getting dragged to hostile hearings on Capitol Hill and his agenda unravels. 

Fox News, which hosted live coverage of Trump’s Thursday night speech at the GOP convention, only brought in an average audience of about 2.5 million for the conclusion of the event. 

The outlet did not get the usual ‘Trump bump’ in ratings that occasionally comes with carrying his live remarks, but maybe some are tired of the show.

Billy Porter Updates Fans After Near-Fatal Sepsis Battle

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Billy Porter Updates Fans After Near-Fatal Sepsis Battle

Billy Porter says he is grateful to be back in his element.

Nearly a year after a minor infection escalated into a life-threatening sepsis crisis that left the Pose actor in a coma, Porter opened up about returning to public life and finding renewed purpose.

“I was on my death bed for three days in a coma on an ECMO machine,” Porter told E! News’ Keltie Knight in an exclusive interview during Christian Siriano’s New York Fashion Week show on Sept. 10. “Coming out of that, I’m a whole new person. I feel like I was always on the right path but even more so now.”

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Porter took a front-row seat at the presentation alongside Brandy, Evan Rachel Wood and Tiffany Haddish, making clear that he is embracing life with fresh determination.

“The things I believe in,” he explained. “How I show up, it’s even more grounded.”

While the near-fatal health emergency was frightening, Porter said the outpouring of encouragement and affection he received during his yearlong recovery was also “overwhelming.”

California Woman Fatally Shot by DoorDash Driver Who Allegedly Stalked Her for Months, DHS Says

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California Woman Fatally Shot by DoorDash Driver Who Allegedly Stalked Her for Months, DHS Says

A California woman was fatally shot outside a Panera Bread in Sacramento County on Tuesday by an illegal immigrant who had allegedly stalked her for months despite being under a restraining order, the Department of Homeland Security said.

Shalini Thakur, 38, was near her vehicle when Rohit Rohit, an illegal immigrant from India, confronted her, DHS said. When Thakur attempted to escape, Rohit allegedly chased her and shot her in the head before fleeing the scene in a car.

Police officers responding to the shooting caught up with Rohit, authorities said, but he then died by suicide with a gun.

Rohit Rohit mugshot

Rohit Rohit, an illegal immigrant from India, allegedly stalked a California woman for months before fatally shooting her in a parking lot this week and taking his own life. DHS said Rohit entered the United States illegally through Arizona and was released by the Biden administration. (Department of Homeland Security; Getty Images)

“This tragedy would have been completely avoided if it weren’t for the Biden administration RELEASING this killer into our country,” a DHS spokesperson said.

“Sanctuary politicians must put an end to reckless policies that play Russian roulette with American lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim and her family.”

Rohit had allegedly stalked Thakur for months before she obtained a restraining order. Thakur knew him as a DoorDash delivery driver who would park outside her home for hours and speak with her every day, ABC 10 reported.

The DoorDash app.

FILE – Officials alleged Rohit was a DoorDash delivery driver. (CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

RELATED: CIA Releases Pre-9/11 Daily Briefs on Bin Laden, al-Qaida

The alleged stalking dated back to at least January, when Thakur discovered an Apple AirTag underneath the hood of her car.

According to the report, Rohit at one point attempted to pressure Thakur into marrying him and sought to prevent her from socializing with other people. He also allegedly threatened to shoot himself or anyone she met.

Rohit later deflated her car tires and followed her to work so he could pretend to offer her help, authorities said. At one point, Rohit allegedly obtained a copy of Thakur’s apartment key so he could enter her home while she slept.

a border patrol agent stands in front of the trump border wall

FILE – DHS said Rohit illegally entered the United States through Arizona in August 2023 and was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol before later being released. (Gregory Bull/Associated Press)

Even after she got a restraining order against Rohit in May, he continued to stalk her as recently as July.

“She could have been saved. She told police so many times,” Thakur’s mother, Sudesh Kumari, told the news outlet. “She called them, but nobody did anything.”

Rohit illegally entered the United States through Arizona in August 2023 and was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol. He was released as part of the Biden administration’s policy to let migrants into the U.S. after they were given a court date to appear before a judge.

DoorDash did not immediately respond to News Media’s request for comment.

This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Trump $1 Coin Sparks MAGA Rush for Presidential Keepsakes

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Trump $1 Coin Sparks MAGA Rush for Presidential Keepsakes

President Donald Trump has become the first sitting president to appear on a U.S. $1 coin, with the newly released collectible selling out within hours.

US Treasurer Brandon Beech told the Daily Mail that the administration first considered placing Trump’s portrait on a $250 bill to coincide with America’s 250th anniversary. That plan, however, would have required new legislation.

With Congress passing relatively little legislation, officials instead turned to existing authority that allowed them to feature the president on a $1 coin.

Beech said he reached out to the White House photography team and received 12 images of Trump. Officials created coin prototypes from the photographs and presented them to the president, who chose the final design himself.

“This is what he picked,” Beech said. “It came out last week. We sold out in four hours.”

The US Mint offered the Trump $1 coins in pre-release rolls of 25 for $61 — nearly two and a half times their face value — as well as bags containing 100 coins for $154.50.

Although the coins have a gold-like shine, they contain no gold. They are made from an alloy of copper, zinc, manganese and nickel. A special run of 250,000 coins struck on July 4 features a “July 4th” privy mark.

Beech maintained that the higher price is only temporary.

US Treasurer Brandon Beech told the Daily Mail that the administration had initially wanted to put Trump's portrait on a $250 bill to mark the nation's 250th anniversary, but discovered that legislation would be needed

US Treasurer Brandon Beech told the Daily Mail that the administration had initially hoped to feature Trump’s portrait on a $250 bill for the nation’s 250th anniversary, but found that legislation would be required.

At the convention, Trump's supporters were largely unfazed by the price. Karen Love, from the Dallas area, said she had not heard about the coin before being asked about it, but thought the price was 'fair' and suggested it could become a 'memorial kind of thing'

At the convention, Trump supporters appeared largely unconcerned about the cost. Karen Love, from the Dallas area, said she had not heard of the coin before being asked about it, but called the price “fair” and said it could become “a memorial kind of thing.”

The coins were being sold as a pre-release by the Mint in rolls of 25 for $61, above their $25 face value. Beech says the dollar coin will hit banks in the US ‘within the next month’

The coins were being sold as a pre-release by the Mint in rolls of 25 for $61, above their $25 face value. Beech says the dollar coin will hit banks in the US ‘within the next month’

‘You can get these at a bank in the next month. You should be able to go into a bank like you get a roll of quarters, you should be able to get a roll of Trump coins, dollar coins, and then you can go out and use them as legal tender and spend them.’ 

The coin is already proving controversial, with Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada calling it ‘completely contrary to America’s democratic values’ and previously introducing legislation with Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley to block living presidents from appearing on US currency.

 A legal challenge has also been filed, arguing that putting a living president’s likeness on U.S. currency violates federal law.

 Nine million coins were struck, with 8.75 million initially put up for sale by the Mint, while the rarer July 4-marked versions are already being offered for hundreds of dollars online, far above their $1 face value. 

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And for those who want to spend rather than collect them, Beech said the coins should soon be available through banks just like rolls of quarters. 

‘You should be able to go into a bank like you get a roll of quarters, you should be able to get a roll of Trump coins, dollar coins, and then you can go out and use them as legal tender and spend them.’ 

Asked whether it was appropriate to honor a sitting president on money while American forces were fighting a war with Iran, Beach did not hesitate.

‘No, listen, this is our 250th birthday. We’re proud to be Americans,’ he said. ‘I love this country. I’m unapologetic about loving America and being part of a great country, and we should all love this country. And we should love our president and respect our president and be happy that we got a dollar coin with his image on it.’

At the Republican convention in Dallas, where the coin was the talk of the floor, the price drew shrugs.

Actor John Schneider was the most emphatic.

‘I think it’s fantastic,’ the Dukes of Hazzard star said. ‘He’s done so much for our country, not only in our country, but globally, that I think it’s a wonderful, wonderful kind of award for him and he deserves it.’

Schneider said he saw the coins as ‘nostalgia’ and ‘honor’ rather than investment. ‘I don’t think a lot of people talk about honoring President Trump, and I don’t know why,’ he said.

Denise Hopkins, from Mandeville, Louisiana, called the coin ‘very cool’ and rattled off its uses: ‘souvenirs, keepsakes, Christmas gifts, stocking stuffers.’

Roy Parker, of Carrollton, Texas, said of Trump becoming the first living president on a U.S. dollar coin: ‘I would absolutely love that,’ citing ‘everything that he’s done for this country.’

Michael Walton, from Dallas, was more clear-eyed about the markup. ‘It’s probably going to end up being a novelty. So it’s not unexpected.’

Karen Love, from the Dallas area, had not heard of the coin until asked, but called $61 ‘fair’ and guessed it would become a ‘memorial kind of thing.’

Schneider had no ceiling at all.

‘I’d spend $90 to honor him,’ he said. ‘Why not 100? I’ll do it.’
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