Mixed Martial Arts fighter Sean Strickland found himself at the center of controversy after being removed from the UFC Freedom 250 event by the U.S. Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies. This came on the heels of his disparaging remarks about Jeffrey Epstein.

Earlier in the month, Strickland had claimed he was barred from the significant MMA event, hosted on the South Lawn of the White House. His exclusion stemmed from comments he made regarding President Donald Trump’s alleged ties to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Despite the ban, Strickland made a bold move on Sunday by showing up at the event’s Fan Fest held at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. His unexpected presence sparked immediate tension among the MMA fans, many of whom support the MAGA movement. They quickly converged around the ring, expressing their displeasure through boos and jeers.

The situation escalated to the point where Secret Service agents stepped in to escort Strickland from the premises. As he was led away, the crowd erupted into chants of “USA,” underscoring the charged atmosphere of the event.

Strickland was then kicked out of the event, escorted away by Secret Service agents to chants of ‘USA’ from the crowd. 

‘UFC at the White House with [Netanyahu] in the audience. Straight slop,’ Strickland, the MMA promotion’s undisputed middleweight champion wrote on Instagram.

Sean Strickland was escorted out of a UFC Freedom 250 event by US Secret Service

The MMA fighter snuck into the Fan Fest after previously claiming he had been banned 

Law enforcement swiftly moved into action, detaining Strickland and kicking him out 

Internet rumors have circulated claiming Netanyahu will be on hand when Trump celebrates his 80th birthday on June 14 by holding cage fights on the White House’s South Lawn. However, his attendance has not been confirmed amid the United States’ ongoing war with Iran.

‘To be fair, they did ban me,’ Strickland continued. ‘But when you make fun of the leaders of America, they tend to be a little bit petty. By leaders, I mean Israel.’

Strickland wasn’t finished. Asked directly why he wouldn’t be in attendance at UFC Freedom 250, Strickland put a finer point on it: ‘I made fun of Israel and Epstein.’

He then added: ‘The only male American champ banned at the White House because I said Trump is owned by [Netanyahu]. That’s not public opinion, it’s fact.’

Later, in a video posted on X, Strickland claimed UFC staff called him to say the White House did not clear his attendance at UFC Freedom 250.

He then facetiously apologized to Israel and Trump.

‘Moving forward, I would like to just apologize to Israel. I would like to say “I’m sorry,” you know? I’d like to apologize to Trump,’ he said. ‘And I just want to prove that I’m Israeli enough to you guys.

‘For instance, whenever the [Epstein] list disappeared and Trump goes out there and says to everybody that he can’t really go into it because people by association will be prosecuted and their names will be tarnished, I want to apologize, because I don’t want them to be prosecuted.

‘Or when Trump goes and bombs the f*** out of Iran… sorry I’ve been a critic of that,’ he continued. ‘My allegiance was apparently in the wrong place and I just want to apologize.

‘Or when Trump goes out there and [a reporter says] your approval ratings are the lowest its ever been across all demographics and Trump says “you know what, I have a 99-percent approval rating in Israel,” I want to apologize and I want to repent.

‘Apparently I’m not American enough to go to Freedom 250, but I still got my ticket so maybe I’ll just go and bring the [middleweight title] belt and just stand outside the gate and just let them know what we really think about Trump and Israel.

An outspoken conservative and former Trump supporter, Strickland has been at odds with the White House over the release of the Epstein Files , the President’s ties to the late sex trafficker, as well as the belief that Israel pushed the US into attacking Iran.

Strickland is just weeks removed from his split-decision victory over Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328, so he was never a candidate to participate at UFC Freedom 250, which will be headlined by the Ilia Topuria-Justin Gaethje main event.

But he has been outspoken about UFC Freedom 250 on social media, once predicting that Netanyahu would ‘set the record for the loudest public shaming’ if he attended.

And in a recent online response to conservative provocateur Matt Walsh, Strickland went after Trump directly: ‘Trump went from MAGA to Make Israel great real fast.’

More to follow.  

Prominent Black political figures, including Hakeem Jeffries, the leader of the House Democrats, and members of the Congressional Black Caucus, are throwing their support behind Representative Adriano Espaillat. This comes as he faces a contentious primary challenge from Diariliza Avila Chevalier, a 32-year-old backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani and affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America.

The connection between Jeffries and Espaillat is a longstanding one, originating from their tenure in the state Assembly prior to their respective ascensions to the House of Representatives.

Over the weekend, Jeffries voiced his dissatisfaction with Mayor Mamdani’s involvement in the congressional contest.

“The mayor and I have a significant disagreement concerning the congressional races, especially regarding the endorsement against Congressman Adriano Espaillat,” Jeffries stated during a press conference held at the Edison Hotel in Manhattan on Saturday, where he endorsed Espaillat.

“The mayor and I strongly disagree as it relates to the congressional races, particularly the endorsement that was made against Congressman Adriano Espaillat,” Jeffries said during an endorsement press conference for Espaillat at the Edison hotel in Manhattan on Saturday.

“We are fully and squarely behind [Espaillat], and we are going to make sure we do everything we can to ensure he is re-elected,” Jeffries said.

Jeffries, who would likely become the first black House speaker if Democrats regain control of the House of Representatives, also brought up gentrification, a sensitive issue in minority communities. His camp has previously claimed that DSA members are among the newcomers gentrifying city neighborhoods.

“Our communities are facing gentrification in the north and JimCrow-like tactics in the South,” he said.

He also said he doesn’t want residents who fought to improve the city during the crack epidemic in the 1980s and 1990s to be forced out as “victims of their own success.”

More importantly, Harlem elected officials — whose districts overlap with the up-for-grabs 13th House seat — could be important validators for Espaillat with black voters, and they showed up at the endorsement event.

The district includes Morningside Heights, Harlem, East Harlem, Washington Heights, Inwood and parts of the western Bronx.

The Harlemites who talked up Espaillat were state Sen. Cordell Cleare, Assembly members Al Taylor and Jordan Wright and city Councilman Yusef Salaam.

Espaillat cross-endorsed Wright, the son of Manhattan Democratic leader and longtime Harlem power broker Keith Wright, who is also facing a DSA challenger.

Old black voters in central Harlem could impact the primary election if they turn out in force, to counter younger voters who connect with Chevalier.

The black leaders said it was important to maintain unity among black and Latino communities.

Espaillat, seeking a sixth term, is chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

“Adriano Espaillat is the man for the job. We don’t need outsiders,” said Cleare, citing the incumbent’s experience and knowledge of nitty-gritty community concerns.

For his part, Espaillat recalled reading the newspapers as a kid, when he was a Dominican immigrant learning English. He admired then-Harlem Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, who he called a “larger-than-life” figure.

“I’m no stranger to Harlem,” he said.

In a recent debate, Espaillat said he would “absolutely” support Jeffries as the first African-American speaker, while Avila Chevalier said she would discuss the choice later after consulting with constituents.

Brooklyn Rep. Yvette Clarke, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, and Queens Congressman Gregory Meeks also stood with fellow House member Espaillat.

An entrepreneur, found guilty of defrauding JPMorgan Chase of $175 million, has set her sights on receiving a presidential pardon. This individual, Charlie Javice, was convicted of deceiving the bank and its CEO, Jamie Dimon, who is known for his critical stance on Trump.

Javice and her associates are actively seeking backing from the Trump administration in hopes of securing a pardon. This comes as the White House is contemplating the issuance of 250 pardons in celebration of the country’s 250th anniversary this summer, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal.

Currently, Javice’s request hasn’t been included in the formal list submitted to the Justice Department for consideration. However, White House sources have indicated that the final decision rests with the president regarding who receives pardons.

In the meantime, Javice is embroiled in a civil case with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is also locked in a dispute with JPMorgan Chase over what the bank claims are exorbitant legal fees amounting to $74 million. These expenses allegedly included unconventional costs like $530 for gummy bears.

Javice’s pursuit of a pardon comes merely a year after her conviction in federal court for the fraud that not only embarrassed JPMorgan Chase but also its CEO, Dimon. The fallout from her actions led the bank to spend millions in legal fees after acquiring her company, Frank, for $175 million.

Javice, who made the Forbes ’30 Under 30′ list of young business luminaries in 2019, was first arrested in April 2023 on federal charges of conspiracy, bank and wire fraud connected to the student financial aid startup company.

It had promised to simplify the notoriously complicated process of filling out financial aid applications for college and graduate students.

Javice sold the company to JPMorgan Chase, the largest bank in the world, promising the institution it could have access to what she said were four million users to pitch bank accounts and credit cards to.

But after JPMorgan Chase executives tried to contact some of the customers, they learned Frank had just 300,000 users – and the rest of its client base had been fabricated by Javice, who used fake information including false phone and social security numbers.

Charlie Javice is seeking a pardon from President Donald Trump one year after being convicted of defrauding JPMorgan Chase

The White House is considering issuing 250 pardons this summer to mark the nation’s 250th birthday

At trial, Frank’s chief software engineer, Patrick Vovor, testified that Javice had asked him to generate synthetic data to support her claim over the amount of customers.

Prosecutors said that Javice and her number two at the firm, Olivier Amar, who was also convicted, told Vovor it was legal.

The duo reportedly said that they didn’t want to end up in orange prison jumpsuits, Vovor testified that he refused to help them.

Seeking to dent Vovor’s credibility, defense lawyers suggested he was resentful that Javice didn’t want to date him, which he denied.

Prosecutors said the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business graduate ended up paying a college friend $18,000 to create millions of fake names with pedigree information.

The results were sent to JPMorgan’s third-party data provider, but testimony showed that firm never checked to ensure the people were real. 

The bank eventually shuttered Frank, and Dimon called the acquisition a ‘huge mistake.’

Javice and Amar were ultimately convicted on counts including conspiracy, bank fraud and wire fraud charges that are each punishable by up to 30 years in prison. 

Yet the disgraced businesswoman remained free after posting $2 million bail as she looks to start a family amid fertility issues.

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, a longtime Trump critic, called the acquisition of Javice’s company, Frank, a ‘huge mistake’

JPMorgan discovered the inflated number when it tried to contact Frank customers it believed was real. (Pictured: A snip from the company’s website) 

Javice is now trying to appeal the verdict as she also reportedly seeks the presidential pardon.

She has long claimed her prosecution was unfair, with her attorneys claiming shortly after she was arrested that the Department of Justice improperly colluded with JPMorgan Chase to bring a criminal case against her.

‘The Government has worked hand-in-glove with [JPMorgan Chase], receiving curated sets of documents, access to witnesses and suggestions as to targets for third-party subpoenas,’ attorney Alex Spiro wrote in an October 2023 memo.

‘The Government is apparently content to ignore the highly relevant and likely exculpatory materials [JP Morgan] is strategically choosing to hold back.’

During the trial last year, Javice’s lawyers also argued she was unfairly prosecuted alongside Amar.

They claimed the double trial led each executive to produce more damaging claims about the other, thus prejudicing the jury against the defendants.

Despite her conviction, Javice has maintained relationships with some influential people, including Apollo Group Management CEO Marc Rowan (pictured), who is close with the Trump administration

Despite her conviction, Javice has maintained relationships with some influential people, including Apollo Group Management CEO Marc Rowan, who is close with the Trump administration and was recently named to its Board of Peace to rebuild Gaza.

Rowan was an investor in Javice’s company, and was one of only a few witnesses to testify in her defense at trial. He had even written to Judge Alvin Hellerstein ahead of her sentencing to urge leniency, arguing she still had much to contribute to society. 

But Rowan has also faced his own legal issues.

JPMorgan Chase sued a trust he controlled earlier this year in an effort to recoup some of the money he earned in the Frank deal.

The lawsuit claimed Rowan and other investors in the company refused to give the bank back the money they earned after Javice’s criminal conviction. The trust and JPMorgan Chase have since resolved the lawsuit without disclosing the terms of the agreement.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House and JPMorgan Chase for comment. 

The New York Post’s front-page tribute to the Knicks, celebrating their triumphant victory, quickly became a prized collectible. Enthusiastic fans snapped up every available copy from delis and newsstands throughout the city.

“This is a memento, a piece of history. I might just frame it — the first championship in 53 years,” shared Kristopher Kennedy, a 25-year-old middle-school educator, at a Hudson News outlet on Sunday. His voice was raspy after a night of jubilant festivities in Midtown.

The Knicks secured victory against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, capturing their fourth win in the seven-game showdown to claim the championship title.

New Yorkers, well aware of the moment’s cultural and historical weight, rose early on Sunday to grab print editions of their beloved paper. The cover immortalized the momentous occasion with a striking image of the players lifting their trophy, crowned by the bold headline: “CHAMPS!”

By 8:45 a.m., Grand Central’s Hudson News had already sold out of The Post, although copies of The New York Times were still available.

The New York Times’ cover prominently featured articles about President Trump’s name being removed from the Kennedy Center, artificial intelligence and the World Cup bookended by developments in the Iran and Ukraine wars.

There was not a single mention of the Knicks’ victory.

Andy Yu, a 32-year-old banker, trekked to Hudson News at his friends’ recommendation.

“I wanted to have it to commemorate the victory last night,” Yu said.

“I’m a city kid through and through, and to see them win is something historic and memorable,” he added.

People were lining up outside of Casa Magazines in the West Village in Manhattan before the store even opened.

“It’s crazy. My phone battery died from answering if we have it,” store manager Ali Wasim said.

The drought stretched all the way to Queens.

A cashier at a Walgreens on 8011 Elliot Avenue said that they usually sell five or six copies of The Post daily but ran out Sunday.

Another store on 80th Street and Elliot Avenue said they were fresh out of their 75 copies by 9 a.m. — just two hours after opening.

One frustrated resident popped into the store in their fifth attempt to nab a newspaper.

“I want it because I’m a fan of the Knicks,” he told The Post.

A deli at 64-66 Dry Harbor Ave. receives 10 copies daily — all of which were purchased by a lone local just 20 minutes after opening Sunday.

“Everyone wanted to buy today. They went crazy,” the cashier told The Post.

Scalpers were already selling The Post’s cover for as much as $100 on eBay. It sells for $2 a pop at newsstands and delis.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tyra Banks has initiated a defamation lawsuit targeting Netflix and the creators of the docuseries “Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model.” In her claim, Banks accuses the producers of distorting extensive interview footage to fabricate a misleading narrative.

Filed on Saturday in a Los Angeles federal court, the lawsuit asserts that Banks, the mastermind and host behind “America’s Next Top Model,” participated in a 3 ½-hour interview. During this session, she addressed and took ownership of several contentious elements from the show. However, the footage was heavily edited, reduced to just 16 minutes, and altered to convey a narrative that she argues misrepresents her actual statements.

“The moments where Ms. Banks acknowledged responsibility were entirely omitted,” her attorneys stated. “These segments existed but were never shown to the audience.”

In her legal action, Banks is seeking financial compensation from Netflix, directors Daniel Sivan and Mor Loushy, and EverWonder Studio. Additionally, she is pursuing a court order to prevent the use of her likeness in connection with the docuseries’ soundtrack, which has been released as an album.

Requests for comment were sent on Sunday to the representatives of the defendants.

“America’s Next Top Model” launched in 2003 and ran for 24 seasons. In recent years, the reality competition series has undergone a critical reevaluation over accusations of body shaming, manipulation of contestants and problematic photoshoots. Banks has previously addressed those criticisms, acknowledging “the insensitivity of past ANTM moments” and “some really off choices.”

The lawsuit contends that the producers of the Netflix docuseries used “selective editing, deliberate omission, and surgical manipulation of continuous footage” to formulate a narrative that Banks allowed a contestant to be sexually assaulted on the show, used the contestant’s trauma to drum up ratings and then couldn’t remember it when asked during the interviews.

“Defendants edited the Netflix Series to make it appear that Ms. Banks knew she was being asked about a sexual assault and was intentionally trying to evade the topic,” the lawsuit stated, contending that Banks hadn’t been told — or asked — about the assault during the interview.

Banks’ lawyers wrote that she wasn’t permitted to review the docuseries until a day before its Feb. 16 release. According to the lawsuit, she had not been contacted for fact-checking after her interviews, and was not given an opportunity to respond to accusations from other participants. Other judges from the show, including one her lawyers contend holds a grudge against Banks, consulted on the docuseries.

“Had Ms. Banks known these individuals were so deeply involved in the formulation of the Netflix Series, also serving as consultants shaping the editorial direction, and that she had been excluded from such a role, it would have raised a red flag,” the lawsuit read. “She would have known she was being set up. She would not have participated.”

Banks’ lawyers reached out to Netflix in March to request access to the full footage of her interviews. Netflix and EverWonder denied that request, according to the lawsuit. Since the docuseries’ release, public reaction has been “swift, harsh, and directed squarely at Ms. Banks” — even SMiZE & DREAM, her ice cream shop in Sydney, Australia, has been subject to review bombing on Google, the lawsuit read.

“Every other conversation about ANTM’s legacy — including the candid reflection Ms. Banks came prepared to have — is now drowned out by an accusation she was never given the chance to answer,” her lawyers wrote. “This lawsuit is that answer — particularly after her efforts to resolve the matter directly with Netflix and the producers were refused.”

Iran’s choice to schedule a funeral for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei this July is a bold move, reflecting their confidence that any forthcoming peace agreement with the United States will remain intact. A counterterrorism expert highlighted the potential risk of gathering Tehran’s most secluded leaders for such an event.

The Iranian state media revealed on June 13 that the extensive state funeral will kick off in Tehran on July 4 and conclude with Khamenei’s interment in the sacred city of Mashhad on July 9, as reported by Reuters.

Dr. Omar Mohammed, who serves as the director of the Antisemitism Research Initiative at the George Washington University’s Program on Extremism, interprets the timing as a calculated signal to the United States.

“Organizing a large-scale funeral is the most vulnerable type of event the regime could host, and now they wouldn’t proceed unless they were sure it wouldn’t be targeted,” Mohammed shared with News Media.

A motorist is seen driving past a banner displaying images of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his son Mojtaba Khamenei on a street in Tehran on April 15, 2026. (AFP/Getty Images)