A firefighter’s holiday side hustle has brought joy to countless kids over the years — but David Saunders, 50, says moonlighting as Santa Claus has been magical for him, too.
For Saunders, who is based in Fairfax County, Virginia, playing Santa goes beyond tradition — it’s a deeply personal mission inspired by family and fueled by a passion for spreading joy, according to SWNS.
Saunders, a married father of five, began the holiday gig 16 years ago. At the time, his son, then 6, had an illness that brought them frequently to Children’s Hospital in Delaware.
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“Every time we went, he would see all the really sick children,” he told SWNS.
“He would leave and always say to me, ‘Man, I wish we could do something nice for all these kids.’ And I would say, ‘Well, you figure out what you want to do, and we’ll try to do it.’”
David Saunders, 50, has been a firefighter for 30 years, but moonlights as Santa Claus.(SWNS)
That wish turned into an unexpected calling for the father-son duo, who began dressing as Santa and his elf to cheer up the young patients.
These days, Saunders does about 100 to 150 home visits each year. He has also done some commercials and ads and a couple of Christmas movies.
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“Honestly, I just like making people happy. I enjoy making people smile,” he told SWNS.
Saunders has seen some children each year since they were infants.
Saunders does about 100 to 150 home visits each year. He has also done some commercials and ads and a couple of Christmas movies.(SWNS)
“I’ve enjoyed being able to watch them grow up,” he said. “You hold them as a baby, and then you watch them grow.”
“Sometimes you think they won’t want you to come back this year, but their moms or dads always call and say, ‘No, they don’t want to go through Christmas without you.'”
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Although the Santa role is generally a joyful one, Saunders acknowledged that it has its challenges.
“I do see some really sick children or children who just don’t really have much of anything,” he said.
“I think all children, even adults, want something to believe in, especially at Christmas,” Saunders told SWNS.(SWNS)
“It’s hard to see their situations because you just want to be able to do something for them,” he went on.
“Sometimes it’s taxing on you, sometimes mentally draining.”
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But he wouldn’t change a thing, he said — and after 30 years as a firefighter, he is now looking to turn his side hustle into a full-time gig.
After 30 years as a firefighter, Saunders is now looking to turn his side hustle into a full-time gig.(SWNS)
“Being a firefighter has been a great job. Again, it’s one of those things that’s mentally and physically taxing, but I’ve had a good career,” he told SWNS.
“My body hurts, and I’m getting older, so it’s time to move on. I’m hoping this business can grow a little bit more.”
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The magic of Christmas is what continues to inspire Saunders to bring joy to children and adults alike.
“I think all children, even adults, want something to believe in, especially at Christmas.”
Melissa Rudy is senior health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected].
Fox News host Laura Ingraham celebrates the year’s “miracles” as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to come back into office on “The Ingraham Angle.”
LAURA INGRAHAM: There is nothing like Trump in New York.
Trump at the opening of the New York Stock Exchange — that’s just another sign that his victory was the greatest comeback of all time…
KARI LAKE NOMINATED AS TRUMP’S PICK FOR DIRECTOR OF VOICE OF AMERICA BROADCAST
Most Democrats — they’re not really feeling the jingle bell spirit right now because they’re still reeling from Kamala’s loss, and adding insult to injury to them, now Trump is TIME’s person of the year…
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It’s almost Christmas. We’ve seen a lot of miracles this year. Trump barely misses getting killed by an assassin’s bullet. Then, he goes on to win the White House, and we survived, as well as a country — at least so far — living under a long-gone Biden. Now, America has a chance with its best fighter back in the ring.
Did you know if you turn an Amazon shipping bag inside out, there’s a strip you can pull to reseal it for returns? Good to know when a holiday gift arrives and it’s nothing like the picture online.
Enter to win a $500 Amazon gift card. No purchase required.
There are all kinds of little tips and tricks that can make the busiest time of year a little easier to manage. I’ve got your back.
DON’T SCAM YOURSELF WITH THE TRICKS HACKERS DON’T WANT ME TO SHARE
Shopping
Ho-ho-hope your packages arrive on time: Gmail’s package tracking now includes real-time updates. On your phone, tap Menu > Settings. Look for General settings (Android) or Data privacy (Apple) and toggle on Package tracking at the bottom.
Hide-and-seek: You’re shopping online for your kiddo or spouse and they walk in. Quick! Hide your open browser windows. On a PC: Windows key + M. (Use Windows key + Shift + M to reopen.) On a Mac: Cmd + Option + H + M. Phew, no spoilers.
A person is pictured online shopping during the holiday season.(iStock )
Amazon’s secret 20% discount: Send your old tech to Amazon through its Trade-in Program and get a gift card for the value. They’ll take just about anything — it doesn’t even need to work. But if you trade in Amazon gear like a Kindle, eero or Fire TV Stick, you’ll get 20% off a new, qualifying device.
Drop the drop shippers: On Etsy, the whole purpose is to buy something handmade. If you’re not sure what you’re getting is legit, check if it’s genuine or mass-produced junk by doing a reverse image search. Click on the item’s image, then drag and drop it into Google Images. Major red flag: You see the exact same thing on other sites.
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At home
Focus! Blurry pics are a bummer. Sometimes your phone’s cam picks the wrong spot. For a quick reset, tap the area on your screen you want to be the clearest. Easy and effective. No ruined family photos this year.
Related: Trick to take the best family portrait without a photographer
I’m B-side myself: Make a playlist with your fam so you’re not bickering over the music on Christmas morning. For Spotify, open the app, then head to Your Library and select the playlist. Tap the three dots in the top right > Share to send it. In Apple Music, go to Library > Playlists > three dots (upper right) > Share Playlist. Jingle all the way!
An Amazon courier delivers packages as a DHL van is seen behind on April 04, 2024 in Berlin, Germany. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Family visiting? Keep your steamy romance novels on lock by creating a passkey for your Kindle. Tap the three dots (upper right) and go to Settings > Device Options > Device Passcode. Your passcode can be up to 12 digits long. That’s hot!
Related: It’s smart to lock your computer down, too
On the road
Flying away? Uber’s got three new features to make your airport trips easier. The first, UberXXL, gets you a bigger car with extra trunk space for groups. The second, UberX Share, allows you to pay 25% by sharing a ride with someone heading your way. It’s available now at select airports. And finally, with Uber Reserve, you can have a car waiting for you when you land.
3 SECURITY AND DATA CHECKS YOU SHOULD DO ONCE A YEAR
Synced your phone to a rental car? Wipe your data so the next driver doesn’t get your texts. On the car’s infotainment system, go to Settings and look for a factory reset option. Every car’s system is different, so check the manual or ask the rental company if you can’t find it.
Over the river and through the woods: See the best time to leave for Grandma’s house (or anywhere else) without arguing. In Apple Maps, press the Now button on the left to open a calendar. In Google Maps, tap the three dots at the top right. For both, select Leave/Depart at or Arrive by and hit Done.
An Uber logo is pictured.(Getty Images)
Track your luggage with your airline’s app: Open the app’s Menu > Track my bags. The naming will vary depending on the airline. Enter your reservation or tag number, and you’ll get updates along its journey.
Or use a tracker: For me, this is the most reliable option. Apple’s AirTags are ideal if you have an iPhone, Mac or iPad. The Tile 2-pack is Android compatible and has a tracker for your luggage and one to slide into your wallet.
Related: There’s one place during your travels an AirTag won’t work
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President-elect Donald Trump was named the TIME 2024 Person of the Year Thursday morning. The ‘Fox & Friends’ co-hosts reacted to the announcement and what they call the ‘Trump effect’ as a majority of Americans are hopeful ahead of the new year.
Food workers in Washington, D.C., pledged to refuse service and cause other inconveniences for members of the incoming Trump administration when they dine out over the next four years.
Industry veterans, bartenders and servers in the nation’s capital told the Washingtonian that resistance to the Republican figures in the progressive city was inevitable and a matter of conscience.
“You expect the masses to just ignore RFK eating at Le Diplomate on a Sunday morning after a few mimosas and not to throw a drink in his face?,” said Zac Hoffman, a DC restaurant veteran who is now a manager at the National Democratic Club.
Bartenders and servers in the report promised to shun certain officials or employ other small acts of resistance against these figures to take their “power back.”
WASHINGTON, D.C., POLITICAL BAR TAKES DOWN REPUBLICAN SYMBOL AFTER FIERCE BACKLASH
Restaurant workers in Washington, D.C., promised Trump officials would not feel welcome dining out over the next four years.(iStock)
“This person theoretically has the power to take away your rights, but I have the power to make you wait 20 minutes to get your entrée,” Nancy, a fine-dining bartender, said.
“There’s a lot of opportunities for us as workers to feel like we’re taking our power back, while not necessarily ruining someone’s life. Giving them a subtle inconvenience feels like a little bit of a win for us,” she continued.
Nancy said she would refuse service to certain Trump officials. If her employer tried to force her, she claimed she would quit “on the spot.”
“There is power in making it known that you’re not comfortable with a situation, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be this big dramatic show,” she said. “It’s just little bits of resistance that add up, and little bits of resistance that other people will see and hopefully feel empowered to stand on those convictions as well.”
Suzannah Van Rooy, a server and manager at Beuchert’s Saloon on Capitol Hill, also vowed to refuse service to Trump officials whom she felt held moral views that opposed her own.
The Capitol Building is seen from the National Mall in Washington D.C. on Friday, August 9, 2024.(Aaron Schwartz/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
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“I personally would refuse to serve any person in office who I know of as being a sex trafficker or trying to deport millions of people,” she said.
“It’s not, ‘Oh, we hate Republicans.’ It’s that this person has moral convictions that are strongly opposed to mine, and I don’t feel comfortable serving them,” Van Rooy added.
One anonymous host at a fine dining restaurant said she planned to look up every Trump administration figure online so she could know who they were and give them a bad table if they came in.
“I’ll only give them a bad table but will otherwise guarantee decent and polite service,” she went on. “I feel like them getting a bad table is nothing compared to the harm they’ll be inflicting.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 12: President-elect Donald Trump speaks at a reception at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) after being named TIME’s “Person of the Year” for the second time on December 12, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Not every liberal worker in the report planned to protest the incoming administration while doing their job, however.
A bartender named Joseph said while he was disappointed by the election results, he was looking forward to higher tips with more Republicans in Washington.
“I think my tip average from Republicans—at least ones that I or a coworker has recognized—is close to 30 percent. With Dems, I’m surprised if it’s over 20,” he said, adding that Republicans tend to be lower maintenance patrons as well.
These comments beckon memories of Trump’s first time in office, when Republican Party figures were harassed while dining at D.C.-area restaurants.
Then-White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and her family were kicked out of a Virginia restaurant and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was heckled and harassed at a Mexican Washington D.C. restaurant in 2018.
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Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders was kicked out of a Virginia restaurant in 2018, when she served as Trump’s press secretary.(Getty Images)
A few months later, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and his wife were also chased out of D.C. restaurant by left-wing protesters.
Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., encouraged supporters after the two incidents to fight back against the Trump administration. She said at the time current administration officials who defend Trump “know what they’re doing is wrong” and said they soon won’t be able to peacefully appear in public without being harassed. She later backed off from those remarks.
Fox News’ Bradford Betz contributed to this report.
Kristine Parks is an associate editor for Fox News Digital. Read more.
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Christina Hall tearfully revealed why she ended her relationship with her estranged husband, Josh Hall.
In a clip from Christina’s new reality show, “The Flip Off,” which was shared with People magazine, the 41-year-old reality star opened up about her split from Josh during a conversation with her ex-husband and co-star, Tarek El Moussa, 44.
The video featured a scene in which El Moussa was seen visiting Christina, who appeared visibly upset, and asked her, “You good?”
“No. … Josh and I officially split up,” the “Christina on the Coast” host replied.
HGTV STAR CHRISTINA HALL LISTS TENNESSEE HOME HER EX IS REPORTEDLY LIVING IN: ‘YOUR MIND ON MY MONEY’
Christina Hall broke down in tears as she told ex-husband Tarek El Moussa their children said she should leave her estranged husband, Josh Hall. (Getty)
“We had a blowup … middle fingers in my face,” she continued in the clip, released Thursday.
“Things with Josh have been bad for a long time.”
Christina, who shares daughter Taylor, 14, and son Brayden, 9, with El Moussa, explained that their children had spoken out about Hall’s treatment of their mother prior to their breakup in July.
“The kids literally asked me to leave,” Christina tearfully recalled. “They told me he’s not nice to me. Why would I stick around?
“I feel like I’m in a tornado all the time, and I just can’t get out of it.
“Everything, since like 2016, has been so hard and so horrible. It’s really taken a really bad toll on me.”
El Moussa and Christina were married for seven years and share their two children.(Aaron Rapoport/Corbis/Getty Images)
In December 2016, Christina and El Moussa announced they were separating after seven years of marriage, and they finalized their divorce in 2018. The former couple co-starred in the hit HGTV reality show “Flip or Flop” for 10 seasons, from 2013 to 2022, continuing to work together after their split.
Christina married British television host Ant Anstead, 45, in December 2018, and they welcomed son Hudson in 2019. The two announced they were separating in September 2020, and Christina filed for divorce two months later.
“They told me he’s not nice to me. Why would I stick around?”
— Christina Hall
After their divorce was finalized in June 2021, Anstead and Christina engaged in a bitter custody battle over Hudson. Though the former couple shared joint legal and physical custody of Hudson, Anstead filed for full custody of their son in April 2022, alleging that Christina had spent little time with Hudson since they began co-parenting their son.
Christina and Anstead reached a settlement in December 2022 and decided to maintain their previously established joint custody arrangement. Since then, Christina and Anstead’s relationship has become more amicable, and the exes are now following each other again on Instagram.
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In the new clip from “The Flip-Off,” Christina apologized to El Moussa, who married former “Selling Sunset” star Heather Rae Young in October 2021.
“I’m really sorry for s— too. I really am,” Christina told El Moussa. “I just want you to know.”
“I understand that feeling of feeling a little bit lost,” he replied. “And I acknowledge that I’m a big part, if not the entire part, of all of this.”
Christina and Ant Anstead were married in 2018 but divorced in 2020.(Allen Berezovsky)
While Christina and El Moussa continued to film “Flip or Flop” together, their personal relationship was initially rocky. However, the two have established a friendship over the years and amicably co-parent Taylor and Brayden.
Josh was originally going to star alongside Christina in “The Flip-Off,” which was to follow the pair as they compete against El Moussa and Heather in a real estate flip-off contest. The show was announced in May, and production started shortly before Christina and Josh filed for divorce July 7.
HGTV STAR TAREK EL MOUSSA, HEATHER RAE ADMIT ONE THING CAUSES ‘TENSION’ ON SET WITH HIS EX-WIFE CHRISTINA HALL
Following the former couple’s divorce filing, a source told Us Weekly Josh is no longer involved with the show and Christina, Tarek and Heather were proceeding without him.
Last month, Anstead was spotted filming a scene for “The Flip-Off” with Christina. At the time, a source confirmed to Fox News Digital that Anstead is “filming a portion of the show” with Christina.
While speaking with Backgrid in August, Christina explained her decision to refollow the “For the Love of Cars” alum.
“Ant and I share Hudson … and I feel like he deserves to have us get along,” Christina said, according to People.
Christina also praised her first ex-husband and his wife, saying, “Tarek, Heather and I get along really well. It’s been really nice to co-parent with them.”
El Moussa and his wife Heather are starring alongside Christina in “The Flip-Off.”(Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)
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Anstead has been dating Renée Zellweger after they met on the set of his show, “Celebrity IOU Joyride,” in April 2021.
Christina and Josh secretly married in October 2021 and tied the knot again in September 2022 during a ceremony in Hawaii.
When they filed for divorce, Josh cited their date of separation as July 8, while Christina noted the former couple had separated the day before, July 7.
Since filing for divorce, Christina has accused her estranged husband of transferring $35,000 of her money into his personal bank account July 8 after their divorce filing, according to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital.
“I would not have asked him to send himself my money the day after I told him we are getting divorced,” Christina stated in the documents.
Christina Hall and Josh Hall both filed for divorce in July.(Getty Images)
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In his divorce filing, Josh requested spousal support from Christina. In her latest court filing, Christina stated that her ex “should not need” spousal support because he has his own source of income.
The former couple’s split has become increasingly acrimonious, and Christina has frequently slammed her ex on social media.
In October, Josh filed a motion to stop Christina from selling a Tennessee home that she had listed for $4.5 million, according to court documents. Josh has been living at the house since their split in July. In November, Christina took the house off the market amid the dispute.
The sex abuse trial of Tampa Bay Rays player Wander Franco was supposed to commence Thursday. But it was delayed until June after 28 of 31 witnesses expected to testify were absent.
Franco has been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor and human trafficking. His trial is scheduled to resume June 2, 2025.
Dominican Judge Yacaira Veras postponed the trial at the request of prosecutors due to the absence of several key witnesses in the case. Only three of 31 witnesses arrived for the trial Thursday.
Franco’s lawyers asked the court to reconsider the postponement, arguing Franco must report to spring training in mid-February.
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Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco throws to first base in the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., July 25, 2023.(Jonathan Dyer/USA Today Sports)
“There is no case against Wander. For as many witnesses as they present, there is no case now,” Franco’s lead lawyer, Teodosio Jáquez, told The Associated Press.
The judge replied that Franco is obligated to continue with the trial schedule and his conditional release from detainment.
The 23-year-old shortstop said his career is not over yet, that he wants justice to be done and that “everything is in God’s hands.”
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Franco appeared upset when reporters asked if his MLB career was over.
“I did not had a career,” he said, implying that he still has one. “This is not over.”
Franco was arrested on a separate charge in the country for his involvement in an alleged armed altercation in November.
Tampa Bay Rays star Wander Franco is facing an investigation into alleged inappropriate relationships with minors.(AP Photo/Chris O’Meara, File)
The Rays took down images of Franco around Tropicana Field after the allegations became public last year. There has also been no sign of Franco merchandise being sold at the Rays’ team store within their ballpark.
He agreed to an 11-year, $182 million contract in November 2021. He was an All-Star for the first time in 2023, hitting .281 with 17 homers and 58 RBI over 112 games.
Tampa Bay placed him on the team’s restricted list July 10, cutting off the pay he had been receiving while on administrative leave.
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After Dominican police raided two homes associated with Franco just before the new year, he was eventually arrested. He was later released on the condition that he meet with local authorities once a month.
According to ESPN, Dominican prosecutors say Franco called the minor “my girl” in a WhatsApp message, admitting the relationship was a “risk,” but he “loved it.”
“My girl,” Franco allegedly wrote in Spanish. “If my team realizes this, it could cause problems for me. It is a rule for all teams that we cannot talk to minors, and yet I took the risk and I loved it.”
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco celebrates after hitting a home run in the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park in Detroit Aug. 6, 2023.(Rick Osentoski/USA Today Sports)
Prosecutors say Franco’s relationship with the girl, now 15, lasted four months, and he paid her not to speak about it. The girl’s mother also faces charges of money laundering based on gifts sent to her by Franco. Franco and the girl met Dec. 9, 2022, after he “took her from her home,” had sex twice in a two-day span and began their relationship.
Prosecutors say the minor’s mother went from being a bank employee to leading an ostentatious life and acquiring assets using the funds she received from Franco. During the raids on the house of the minor’s mother, prosecutors say they found $68,500 and $35,000 that they allege was delivered by Franco.
Franco gave the girl the equivalent of $46,000 in July and August, the documents say, and paid the mother about $1,700 per month, along with a new car.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.
Bill Belichick isn’t going to Chapel Hill blindly.
After spending nearly five decades on NFL sidelines, the eight-time Super Bowl champion took his first-ever college coaching job with the Tar Heels.
He was officially introduced Thursday.
Early reports of Belichick’s interest in the job were often scoffed at, but it’s clear he was interested from the jump.
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New North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick at Loudermilk Center for Excellence.(Jim Dedmon/Imagn Images)
He was so into the job he had spoken with several of the school’s most famed alumni, including Michael Jordan and Lawrence Taylor. Belichick also said he spoke with Julius Peppers.
Jordan starred in Chapel Hill before becoming the greatest basketball player of all time, and Taylor was a mainstay in UNC’s defense before he was drafted by the New York Giants and coached by Belichick. The duo won two Super Bowls together with Big Blue.
Peppers, an NFL great, also played basketball for the school.
In typical Belichick fashion, he did not reveal what they spoke about, but he said they were all “very supportive.”
New North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick speaks to the media at Loudermilk Center for Excellence.(Jim Dedmon/Imagn Images)
BILL BELICHICK SAID HE ALWAYS WANTED TO COACH IN COLLEGE AFTER TAKING UNC JOB: ‘DREAM COME TRUE’
“There’s been a ton of support,” he added, “from ex-players and other UNC alums. This is a great brand and a great support system here. So, I’m excited to spend more time with these people.”
It’s a five-year deal for Belichick, who added that he did not “come [to Chapel Hill] to leave.”
Head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels poses with athletic director Bubba Cunningham during a press conference Dec. 12, 2024, in Chapel Hill, N.C.(Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
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Belichick, 72, interviewed for at least two NFL jobs last offseason after he and the New England Patriots parted ways after 24 seasons and six championships.
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The Biden administration on Thursday announced it is launching a national strategy to combat Islamophobia.
The move, which the administration described as the first-ever Strategy to Counter Islamophobia and Anti-Arab Hate, comes a little more than a year after Hamas’ unprovoked attack on Israel Oct. 7, 2023, which was followed by spikes in antisemitic protests and antisemitism across the United States.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment.
“The very idea of America is that we are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives,” President Biden said in a statement posted to social media. “This Strategy is a historic step forward to live up to our ideals. Let us walk forward together, upholding those ideals and advancing our collective prosperity.”
DEPAUL UNIVERSITY STUDENT ASSAULTED BY ANTI-ISRAEL AGITATOR SEEKS LEGAL ACTION: ‘I WILL NEVER APOLOGIZE’
The Biden administration on Thursday announced it is launching a national strategy to combat Islamophobia. (Pete Marovich/Getty Images)
The aim of the strategy is to “address the bias, discrimination and threats Muslim and Arab Americans have long faced,” the White House said in a release, noting that threats against Muslim and Arab communities in the U.S. increased over the last year.
“In October 2023, 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi, an American Muslim boy of Palestinian descent, was viciously killed in his home in Illinois, and, over the last year, there have been other grievous attacks on Muslim and Arab Americans,” the release said.
Oday Alfayoumi and others carry the casket of his son, Wadee Alfayoumi, for burial at Parkholm Cemetery in La Grange Park, Ill., Oct. 16, 2023. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
The White House noted President Biden established an interagency group in December 2022 to fight antisemitism and Islamophobia. Last year, the administration released the first-ever National Strategy to Combat Antisemitism.
CHICAGO JEWISH MOTHER SPEAKS OUT AGAINST RESPONSE TO ALLEGED HATE CRIME: ‘TERRORISM ON MY PROPERTY’
An anti-Israel sign at Columbia University in New York City April 27, 2024. (Reuters/Caitlin Ochs)
The strategy to combat Islamophobia will focus on increasing awareness about anti-Arab hate, improve safety, tackle discrimination, accommodate religious practices and build solidarity across communities.
Antisemitic incidents hit record highs after the Oct. 7 attack on Israel and the continued war with Hamas.
People protest during the 98th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City Nov. 28, 2024. (Reuters/Brendan McDermid)
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Just this week, students at Columbia University started distributing a newspaper that had articles like “Zionist Peace Means Palestinian Blood” and “The Myth of the Two-State Solution” and anti-Israel protesters interrupted last month’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
President-elect Donald Trump was named the TIME 2024 Person of the Year Thursday morning. The Fox & Friends co-hosts react to the announcement and what they call the Trump effect as a majority of Americans are hopeful ahead of the new year.
Former CNN host Don Lemon blasted Time Magazine as a “joke” after revealing President-elect Donald Trump as their Person of the Year.
Lemon hosted a TikTok Live where he referenced the long-running publication for honoring Trump after winning the 2024 presidential election and overcoming both felony convictions and assassination attempts.
“For marshaling a comeback of historic proportions, for driving a once-in-a-generation political realignment, for reshaping the American presidency and altering America’s role in the world, Donald Trump is Time’s 2024 Person of the Year,” the magazine wrote.
Lemon was furious at the decision, attacking the magazine for picking someone who he said doesn’t stand for democracy.
President-elect Donald Trump speaks at a reception at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) after being named TIME’s “Person of the Year” for the second time on December 12, 2024, in New York City. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
TRUMP SAYS HE WON NEW FANS AFTER ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT: ‘SOMETHING HAPPENED WHEN I GOT SHOT’
“If they wanted to make someone Person of the Year, I don’t know, they could’ve done it with any person. They could have done it to someone who actually stood for democracy, who stands for democracy in the country,” Lemon said.
Although Time Magazine has chosen the winner of the presidential election as Person of the Year every election season since 2000, Lemon insisted that becoming president does not automatically make one qualified for the title.
“Time Magazine, what are you doing? Let me ask you, Time Magazine, what would you say to those women who I guess still read Time Magazine?” Lemon asked.
“You have someone on the cover of your magazine who is an adjudicated assaulter,” he continued. “You have someone who inspired an insurrection. We have someone who, without a doubt, the evidence is there, tried to overturn a free and fair election. You had someone who had multiple criminal accounts and was found guilty on multiple criminal counts. And you name them Person of The Year.”
Don Lemon took to TikTok to attack Time Magazine for picking Trump as Person of the Year.(Photo by Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for Congressional Black Caucus Foundation | Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
“Is this a joke? Did we get something wrong? Did someone scam us? Are we sure about this, producers? There is a convicted felon on the cover of Time Magazine as the Person of the Year. Maybe we’re being scammed. Did someone put out a fake tweet or something about this? I don’t know,” Lemon finished.
Trump was also named Person of the Year after winning the presidential election in 2016. Time wrote that since his campaign, Trump has completely restructured the “course of politics.”
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“Since he began running for President in 2015, perhaps no single individual has played a larger role in changing the course of politics and history than Trump,” Time wrote. “Trump is once again at the center of the world, and in as strong a position as he has ever been.”
The other Time finalists this year included Harris, billionaire Elon Musk – who was named Person of the Year in 2021 – podcast giant Joe Rogan, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Trump was previously chosen as Time Magazine’s Person of the Year in 2016.((Photo by Angel Valentin for The Washington Post via Getty Images))
Last year’s Person of the Year was pop star Taylor Swift, who just concluded her record-breaking “Eras” concert tour.
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Fox News’ David Rutz contributed to this report.
Lindsay Kornick is an associate editor for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter: @lmkornick.
A medical expert is sounding the alarm on the harmful causes of ultra-processed foods as a U.S. teen launches a suit against multiple food giants.
18-year-old Bryce Martinez, who was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease at 16 after consuming ultra-processed foods throughout his childhood, is taking on eleven food manufacturers for allegedly engineering the foods to be addictive, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
“What is an ultra-processed food?,” Dr. Marc Siegel explained on “America Reports”. “It includes emulsifiers, preservatives, colorings, things that actually cause people to eat more of it – even if it’s empty calories, high fructose corn sirup, salt and sugar, things that are very bad for you.”
RFK JR. SAYS KIDS ‘SWIMMING’ IN ‘POISONOUS’ FOODS AS DR. MARC SIEGEL CALLS OUT ‘SICK CARE SYSTEM’
The medical expert explained that the foods are prevalent on supermarket shelves across the country.
“We’ve got to figure out a way to get healthy foods out there instead,” he told Fox News. “I know they’re more expensive, but maybe that’s where supplement and money should come from to get the school lunches fixed, to get them where you have no alternative. People are going to eat. Kids are going to eat at school, but they might find a french fry tastier so they rush there, or something ultra colored. When you’re very young, you know, trying to get Red Dye Three out of there because it looks so bright and cherry that young children are drawn to it. Very, very unhealthy!”
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Evidence suggests these foods also lead to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and weight gain, the doctor explained.
“It’s a long haul to do this, but we got to start very young with children,” he said. “(The) figure of over 40% of adults being obese, (and now) over 20% of children obese and that’s starting down a treadmill.”
