President Trump just sent a direct warning to New York City — and it’s about money. President Trump on Wednesday evening signaled he’s willing to hit New York City right in the wallet if its newly elected mayor pushes ahead with a sweeping new tax on the wealthy. The warning landed on Truth Social and came in response to a plan the mayor unveiled alongside Governor Kathy Hochul this week — a proposal that would roughly double the property tax on New York’s most expensive second homes. The so-called “pied-à-terre” tax would apply to second homes in the city valued at $5 million or more, with the mayor’s team estimating it could generate as much as $500 million in annual revenue. Roughly 13,000 properties would be affected — many of them owned by out-of-state buyers, foreign investors, and the Wall Street class that has made Manhattan a top destination for the ultra-wealthy for decades. In his Truth Social post, Trump didn’t hide his view. He framed the new tax plan as part of a broader pattern he believes is driving residents and businesses out of the city — and made clear federal money flowing to New York could be on the chopping block. “Sadly, Mayor Mamdani is DESTROYING New York! It has no chance! The United States of America should not contribute to its… TAX, TAX, TAX Policies are SO WRONG. People are fleeing. They must change their ways, AND FAST.” — President Donald J. Trump, Truth Social Journalist Nick Sortor was among the first to pick up on the post and flag how serious the threat could get if the White House decides to act on it: JUST IN: President Trump has launched an ATTACK on Communist NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani — insinuating he may WITHHOLD FEDERAL FUNDING to the cityDO IT, 47!STOP FUNDING THE PET PROJECTS OF A FOREIGN COMMUNIST!Take America’s largest city back! pic.twitter.com/aTsg6UtkEB— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) April 16, 2026 The threat lands at a critical moment for New York. The city has leaned on federal dollars for years — for counterterrorism, transit grants, FEMA reimbursements, Medicaid flow-through, and dozens of other line items — and any meaningful squeeze from Washington would force painful choices at City Hall. According to coverage from The Hill, Mamdani’s team is pitching the tax as a way to fund expanded housing, transit, and school programs without adding to the city’s debt load: Mayor Mamdani’s administration argues the pied-à-terre tax is aimed squarely at absentee luxury ownership, with proceeds earmarked for housing and infrastructure. Roughly 13,000 properties valued at $5 million or more would be affected, generating an estimated $500 million annually, according to City Hall. But critics argue the math doesn’t add up — and that even a half-billion-dollar tax haul won’t fix a city they say has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. Financial commentator Avery Daye broke it down plainly: Mamdani proposes a pied-à-terre tax, which would essentially double the property tax for those with a second home valued over $5M in the city.This is a false promise. It’s a lie. Taxing the rich never works. The government has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. When… pic.twitter.com/eT24BcvTk3— Avery Daye (@AveryDaye) April 17, 2026 The concern from conservatives isn’t only about the specific proposal in front of voters right now. It’s about what comes next. Once the city establishes that second homes over $5 million can be double-taxed, critics warn the threshold will quietly slide downward — first to $3 million, then $2 million, then to primary residences of anyone the political class has decided is “rich enough” to punish. In reporting from The New York Post, real-estate groups have warned the plan could accelerate the exodus of high-net-worth families from Manhattan to Florida, Texas, and the Carolinas — states that have spent the last five years building an aggressive pitch to New York money: Industry analysts say a pied-à-terre tax of this size would be the most aggressive levy on luxury real estate in any major American city, and could push the marginal cost of owning a qualifying second home past the point where many out-of-state buyers decide it simply isn’t worth it anymore. Whatever happens next, the Trump-versus-Mamdani fight is shaping up to be one of the defining political showdowns of the year. On one side: a mayor who ran openly as a democratic socialist and is wasting no time going after the city’s wealthiest residents. On the other: a President who has already shown he is willing to use federal dollars as leverage against cities he believes are hostile to taxpayers. If this week is any indication, New York City’s next four years are going to get a whole lot louder before they get any quieter.

Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons submitted his resignation letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Thursday. Lyons will leave his position on May 31. According to Fox News, Lyons wants to spend more time with his family. He said “it’s been a privilege to serve under President Donald Trump,” the outlet noted. “Director Lyons has been a great leader of ICE and key player in helping the Trump administration remove murderers, rapists, pedophiles, terrorists, and gang members from American communities. He jumpstarted an agency that had not been allowed to do its job for four years. Thanks to his leadership, American communities are safer,” Mullin said in a statement to Fox News. “We wish him luck on his next opportunity in the private sector. His last day is May 31, 2026,” he added. Statement to @FoxNews via DHS Secretary Mullin: “Director Lyons has been a great leader of ICE and key player in helping the Trump administration remove murderers, rapists, pedophiles, terrorists, and gang members from American communities. He jumpstarted an agency that had not… — Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) April 17, 2026 Fox News shared further: Lyons has overseen roughly 584,000 ICE deportations since President Donald Trump was inaugurated for a second term last year. He has served in ICE for 20 years and was previously in special forces in the U.S. Air Force. A replacement for Lyons remains uncertain. The agency has not had a Senate-confirmed leader since the Obama administration, CNN noted. Lyons previously urged political leaders to allow their local and state law enforcement to work with the agency. Watch below: JUST IN: Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons has submitted his RESIGNATION to DHS Sec. Mullin, and will serve until May 31 — Fox's @BillMelugin_ Thank you for your service, patriot! Lyons oversaw the SURGE in deportations that we voted for, and it must continue! pic.twitter.com/i26DscCYu2 — Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 17, 2026 CNN noted: Earlier Thursday, Lyons testified before a House Appropriations subcommittee where he fielded questions from lawmakers about the unprecedented number of deaths in ICE custody and future agency plans for detention space, among other issues.

President Trump’s plan to build a towering Triumphal Arch at the gateway to the nation’s capital just cleared its first major federal hurdle. On Thursday morning, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts voted to approve the concept design for the 250-foot gilded arch, which the Trump administration wants to erect in time for America’s 250th birthday. Every member of the commission voted in favor of moving forward — the panel is now made up entirely of Trump appointees after the president fired the previous members last October. The approval isn’t the final word. The commission asked the project’s architect, Nicolas Charbonneau, to come back with a revised version of the design before the final vote. But make no mistake — this was a significant step forward for a project many critics didn’t think would ever get out of the gate. The Rapid Response 47 account shared the official renderings of the arch last week when the plans were first unveiled: pic.twitter.com/zcH5TtaOu7— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 10, 2026 The design is exactly what you’d imagine a Trump monument to look like — and that is not meant as a criticism. The 250-foot structure will be crowned by a winged Lady Liberty figure holding a torch, flanked on either side by gilded eagles. At the base, four gilded lions will stand guard. The phrases “One Nation Under God” and “Liberty and Justice for All” are to be inscribed in gold lettering atop either side of the monument. At 250 feet, the arch will be roughly two and a half times the height of the Lincoln Memorial (99 feet) and nearly as tall as the U.S. Capitol. It will sit on Columbia Island — a human-made island in the Potomac River near the Arlington Memorial Bridge — serving as a grand gateway from Arlington National Cemetery into the District. NBC News laid out the path ahead: President Donald Trump’s planned triumphal arch for Washington cleared a key hurdle Thursday after its early designs secured approval from a federal arts panel whose members were handpicked by the president.The Commission of Fine Arts, which has a new slate after Trump fired the previous members last year, vets designs and major architectural projects in the nation’s capital.Members of the Commission of Fine Arts on Thursday asked the project’s architect, Nicolas Charbonneau, to make some revisions to details in his designs and draft “a second iteration” to present at an upcoming meeting of the panel. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who helped present the project plans at the hearing, told the commission the arch “embodies American freedom” and argued that the human-made island where it will sit is currently barren — not honoring the original vision for the capital city. That said, the project is anything but universally loved. According to ABC News, the commission fielded a wave of public opposition: Protesters gathered outside the National Building Museum, where the commission has its office, and held up signs that read: “Stop Arch Insanity,” “No Trump Arch,” and “No Vanity Arch.”Luebke said many of the comments characterized the project as “a waste of money and misuse of funds” and others said “that it would obstruct historic views and disrupt the landscape, it was inappropriate imperial or political symbolism, that the design was gaudy, oversized, incompatible, and that it was disrespectful to Arlington National Cemetery and military sacrifice.” Nearly a thousand public comments were filed against the project, according to the commission. None of that, of course, was enough to stop the vote from going through. There were some design-related pushbacks from within the commission itself. Vice Chair James McCrery II — an architect who had briefly worked on Trump’s proposed White House ballroom before leaving over concerns about its size — suggested removing three statues from the top of the arch that account for 84 feet of its height. McCrery also objected to a proposed 250-foot underground pathway for visitors, and argued that the lion statues at the base weren’t traditionally “American” symbols. Still, the project is moving forward. And President Trump has been clear from the beginning about what kind of monument he’s building. Announcing the project on Truth Social last week, the president wrote that the administration had “officially filed the presentation and plans to the highly respected Commission of Fine Arts for what will be the GREATEST and MOST BEAUTIFUL Triumphal Arch, anywhere in the World” — and a “wonderful addition to the Washington D.C. area for all Americans to enjoy for many decades to come!” The White House is framing the arch as a tribute to American servicemembers. Spokesman Davis Ingle told NBC News the monument “will enhance the visitor experience at Arlington National Cemetery for veterans, the families of the fallen, and all Americans alike, serving as a visual reminder of the noble sacrifices borne by so many American heroes throughout our 250 year history so we can enjoy our freedoms today.” The arch also faces legal challenges — a group of veterans and historians has sued the administration, arguing that congressional approval is required before construction can begin. But with the Commission of Fine Arts now on board, the revisions underway, and a clear mandate from the White House, the path is open for America to get its first Triumphal Arch — a 250-foot, gold-crowned monument standing at the entrance of the nation’s capital just in time for the country’s 250th birthday. Say what you want about the design — it is going to be a sight to behold.

President Trump made his first remarks on the sexual assault allegations against former Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell. Swalwell resigned from Congress and suspended his California gubernatorial campaign amid sexual assault and harassment allegations by five different women. “We’ll see what happens,” Trump told the Daily Mail. “He’s a sleazebag. Always has been. He’s a long timer, and he’s a bad guy. I don’t know anything about the charges, but he’s a bad guy,” he continued. Trump breaks silence on shocking rape allegations against 'sleazebag' Eric Swalwell to the Daily Mail https://t.co/aOxylugfRy — Daily Mail US (@Daily_MailUS) April 16, 2026 Daily Mail shared further: Swalwell has been one of Trump’s most vocal critics in Congress, accusing the President of colluding with Russia during the 2016 election. He also served as an impeachment manager during Trump’s second trial in 2021. ‘He’s always been a bad guy, he’s a corrupt politician, and everyone knows it, so it’s happening to him, and we’ll see what happens. Right? Let him go defend himself,’ Trump added. Two criminal investigations into the assault claims against Swalwell have been started by both the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Swalwell has denied any wrongdoing in connection with the rape and sexual assault allegations. While rejecting the claims, the former lawmaker acknowledged making ‘mistakes in judgment’ and apologized to his wife, Brittany Watts. The Justice Department also launched a probe against Swalwell. Eric Swalwell Faces Justice Department Probe Lonna Drewes, one of the alleged victims, accused Swalwell of drugging and raping her in a hotel room in 2018. Alleged Victim Of Eric Swalwell Accuses Him Of Drugging, R*ping Her More from the New York Post: Lonna Drewes, 50, said she thought she was friends with the lawmaker but claimed he spiked her drink before choking and sexually assaulting her in West Hollywood. The model sobbed as she claimed Swalwell was masquerading as helping her fashion software company take off, but said he ended up destroying her life and left her “crying all the time.” The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has opened an investigation into Drewes’ claim, after she handed over what she said are damning texts, photographs and journal entries accusing Swalwell of rape. Last week, four women leveled heinous claims against Swalwell, which has set fire to his political career. He’s since pulled out of the California governor’s race and resigned from Congress. A second criminal probe was opened by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office into claims of sexual assault by a former staffer.

Pentagon officials have approached automakers and other manufacturers to help increase weapons production, a practice similar to that during World War II, The Wall Street Journal reports. According to the outlet, top defense officials spoke with executives at Ford Motor and General Motors about producing weapons and other military supplies. Exclusive: The Pentagon has approached automakers and other American manufacturers about playing a larger role in weapons production https://t.co/FoyyuTUtAa — The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) April 15, 2026 More from The Wall Street Journal: The Pentagon is interested in enlisting the companies to use their personnel and factory capacity to increase production of munitions and other equipment as the wars in Ukraine and Iran deplete stocks. The talks were preliminary and wide-ranging, the people said. Defense officials said American manufacturers might be needed to backstop traditional defense companies and asked whether the companies could rapidly shift to defense work. GE Aerospace and the vehicle and machinery maker Oshkosh were among the companies involved in the talks with defense officials. “The Department of War is committed to rapidly expanding the defense industrial base by leveraging all available commercial solutions and technologies to ensure our warfighters maintain a decisive advantage,” a Pentagon official told FOX Business. “The Department is aggressively pursuing and integrating the best of American innovation, wherever it resides, to deliver production at scale and drive resiliency across supply chains,” the official added. Trump administration taps automakers to boost weapons production in WWII-style push https://t.co/oBptSo3bXW — FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) April 16, 2026 FOX Business shared further: Defense officials said accelerating weapons production is being treated as a matter of national security, according to the report. Officials also asked companies to identify barriers to taking on additional defense work, including contracting requirements and challenges with the bidding process. The Pentagon’s recent budget request of $1.5 trillion includes funding for munitions and drone manufacturing. In a statement provided to FOX Business, Oshkosh said it “brings the full strength of a global enterprise, combining scale, financial stability, and advanced, flexible manufacturing, to efficiently ramp production while delivering consistent quality and reliability for both commercial and military customers.” “We are committed to regularly evaluating how our available capacity can meet the Department of War’s evolving needs, and we are proud to support national defense and the service members who rely on our capabilities and technologies,” a spokesperson said.