A new House GOP proposal would withhold funding from U.S. jurisdictions that celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day instead of Columbus Day.

It comes after President Donald Trump signed a proclamation last week declaring Oct. 13 Columbus Day in honor of the famed explorer as well as the heritage of Italian Americans across the U.S.

‘This is about every son and daughter of Italy, every Knights of Columbus, every pasta dinner on Sunday, and every communion — everything that makes our culture who we are, from Philadelphia to San Francisco,’ Rep. Michael Rulli, R-Ohio, told Fox News Digital in an interview.

‘Every Little Italy neighborhood of this country celebrates Christopher Columbus. It’s so much more than the man. It’s the people.’

Rulli’s new bill would both reaffirm Columbus Day as a federal holiday and punish cities and states that replaced the celebration of it with Indigenous Peoples Day.

‘We are not going to allow any American municipality to think that they have power over the federal government,’ he said.

In 2021, then-President Joe Biden formally recognized the second Monday in October as both Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day.

The move was lauded by progressive activists and historians who saw Christopher Columbus as the harbinger of a genocide against the land’s indigenous people, millions of whom were killed amid American colonization.

But Rulli argued that Columbus Day was about honoring Italian Americans’ heritage, pointing out that part of the motivation for its founding in 1892 was the extrajudicial lynching of 11 Italian Americans in New Orleans after the death of a local police chief.

He added his legislation was not meant to undercut the significance of Native Americans — whom he said deserve their own day of significance.

‘I mean, the Native Americans are some of the most amazing, dynamic cultural people that make up the fabric of America. But they need their own special day,’ Rulli said. ‘And I would be willing to do that. I’m saying right now, I would be willing to get the indigenous people their own day, but not this day.’

He further accused the Biden administration of undercutting the legacy of both peoples by declaring both holidays on the same day, while praising Trump for restoring Columbus Day’s original meaning.

‘I don’t care what party you’re in … if you come from Italian American descent, you love what President Trump did. It was a wonderful olive branch to all Italian Americans,’ Rulli said.

‘By no means, no way, shape or form, is this bill meant to offend any of the indigenous people. They deserve their own day. We will get them their own day, but not Columbus Day. This has already been embedded in our fabric for 130 years,’ he said.

New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill is facing criticism after a businessman linked to the Chinese Communist Party made multiple donations totaling tens of thousands of dollars to her campaign. 

Pin Ni, the founder of Wanxiang America Corporation, donated $60,000 to the One Giant Leap super PAC backing Sherrill’s campaign in the form of two checks, in addition to giving the $5,800 individual max donation directly to Sherrill’s campaign this summer, according to records reviewed by Fox News Digital and first reported on by New York Post.

Political campaigns in the United States are only permitted to accept money from American citizens or permanent legal residents and, in addition to Pin’s status being unclear, questions have been raised about the ethics of accepting money from individuals linked to the Chinese Communist Party. 

‘The donor, Pin Ni, has an extensive history of assisting the CCP’s political warfare and influence operations upon the U.S., and of generally aligning with and carrying out party commands,’ Michael Lucci, Founder and CEO of State Armor, told New York Post, adding that taking money from Ni is ‘disqualifying.’

Wanxiang Group posthumously awarded the company’s founder, Lu Guanqiu, the title of ‘National Outstanding Communist Party Member’ in a 2021 press release and praised Guanqiu for his ‘pursuit of communism as a lifelong ideal and practice.’ The press release also said Guanqiu, the late father-in-law of Pin Ni, ‘has always listened to the [Chinese Communist] Party and followed the Party,’ a Fox News Digital review found earlier this year. 

The press release continued by quoting Chinese President Xi Jinping’s praise of Guanqiu, saying he was ‘in line with the Party Central Committee. He always actively does what our Party committees and governments at all levels advocate.’

The founder’s bio on the Wanxiang website says he was elected as the 13th and 14th Representatives of the CPPCC, and a delegate to the 9th, 10th, and 11th Chinese National People’s Congress, top levels of the CCP’s hierarchy. 

Fox News Digital reached out to the Sherrill campaign inquiring whether the money would be returned. 

Fox News Digital also reached out to Pin Ni but did not immediately receive a response.

Sherrill isn’t the only Democrat running for governor in November to be faced with questions about donations from Pin Ni.

Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger took $50,000 from the CCP-tied businessman in two $25,000 installments in April and May, Fox News Digital previously reported. 

The donations sparked criticism from Spanberger’s Republican opponent, Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears.

‘Taking $50,000 from someone with clear Chinese Communist Party ties tells us all we need to know,’ her campaign spokesperson said at the time. ‘You can’t claim to stand up to foreign threats while pocketing money from someone celebrated by the CCP.’

A Spanberger campaign spokesperson said, ‘Virginians know that Abigail Spanberger has a demonstrated record of standing up for America’s national security, delivering results for Virginia families across party lines, and never backing down from keeping the American people safe.’

‘Her campaign will remain focused on what Virginians care about most, keeping our communities safe, driving down costs, protecting Virginia jobs, and making sure Virginia’s public schools are the very best in America,’ the spokesperson added.

Fox News Digital’s Amanda Macias contributed to this report

Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday said President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan for the Gaza Strip was based on one developed by the Biden administration.

In a lengthy post on X, Blinken, who served in the Biden administration, outlined how Trump was able to secure the peace agreement. He noted that Arab states and Turkey have said ‘enough’ to Hamas, and said the response also showed that other Iran-backed groups — Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi rebels — were not coming to Hamas’ aid.

‘It starts with a clear and comprehensive post-conflict plan for Gaza,’ Blinken wrote. ‘It’s good that President Trump adopted and built on the plan the Biden administration developed after months of discussion with Arab partners, Israel and the Palestinian Authority.’

Blinken said the Biden administration briefly secured a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in January, resulting in the release of 135 hostages before the deal fell apart.

He also questioned how Trump could secure a permanent peace plan.

Fox News senior White House correspondent Peter Doocy asked Trump about Blinken’s remarks aboard Air Force One.

‘Everybody knows it’s a joke,’ Trump said. ‘Look, they did such a bad job. This should have never happened.’

‘If just a decent president — not a great president like me — if a decent president were in, you wouldn’t have had the Russia-Ukraine (war),’ Trump said. ‘This was bad policy by Biden and Obama.’

Trump was in Egypt on Monday to work on the second phase of the cease-fire while meeting with more than 20 world leaders.

‘We’ve heard it for many years, but nobody thought it could ever get there. And now we’re there,’ Trump said.

‘This is the day that people across this region and around the world have been working, striving, hoping and praying for,’ he added. ‘With the historic agreement we have just signed, those prayers of millions have finally been answered. Together, we have achieved the impossible.’

In his post, Blinken said the postwar plan for Gaza should be implemented immediately, ‘with eyes wide open about its challenges: pulling together the international stabilization force, fully demilitarizing and disarming Hamas, dealing with insurgents, and expeditiously securing a phased but full Israeli withdrawal.’

He also credited Trump for reaffirming ‘the key principles we established for Gaza at the outset of the war — no platform for terrorism, no annexation, no occupation, no forced population transfers — and for making clear the overall goal is to create the conditions for a credible pathway to a Palestinian state.’

President Donald Trump’s administration has secured the release of more than 70 U.S. hostages held by foreign governments since taking office in January,according to the State Department. 

The Trump administration has emphasized arranging the release of U.S. hostages under his second administration, including Marc Fogel, a U.S. history teacher who had been detained in Russia since 2021, and Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old American–Israeli who spent nearly 600 days as a hostage after Hamas abducted him after its initial attack on Israel. 

Hostages released since Trump’s inauguration include Americans who were detained in Afghanistan, Belarus, Venezuela, Russia, Israel, Tunisia, Kuwait and Cameroon. 

A total of 72 U.S. citizens have been released since Trump’s inauguration in January, according to the State Department’s Office of Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. 

Since then, another hostage release occurred in September when U.S. citizen Amir Amiry was released from wrongful detainment in Afghanistan. 

By comparison, former President Joe Biden said in 2024 his White House secured the release of more than 70 hostages during his four years in office, according to an August 2024 statement.  

Trump claimed to have helped release 58 in his first term as president. 

Trump met with Alexander at the White House Tuesday, exactly two years after Hamas’ initial attack on Israel. Alexander previously visited the White House in July. 

Alexander was raised in Tenafly, New Jersey, and headed to Israel when he was 18-years-old to volunteer for the Israel Defense Forces. He lived with his grandparents in Tel Aviv before he was taken hostage by Hamas. 

In February, Trump met with Fogel, who was arrested in August 2021 at a Russian airport for possessing drugs and was slated to serve a 14-year sentence. Fogel’s family said the drugs he had on him were medically prescribed marijuana. 

‘I want you to know that I am not a hero in this at all,’ Fogel said after meeting Trump. ‘And President Trump is a hero.’

‘These men that came from the diplomatic service are heroes,’ Fogel said. ‘The senators and representatives that passed legislation in my honor — they got me home — they are heroes.’

Following Fogel’s return and after announcing the release of another, unnamed hostage held in Belarus, Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler said in February Trump ‘has made bringing Americans home a top priority, and people respond to that.’

In less than a month into Trump’s second term, the White House said that he had secured the release of 11 U.S. citizens from foreign governments. Fox News Digital didn’t find any available data to compare numbers from Biden’s first month in office.

Just before Trump’s inauguration Jan. 20, both the Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration coordinated to secure a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, which included provisions to release dozens of hostages on both sides. 

Biden and Trump separately boasted about their individual efforts to secure the deal, and then-State Department spokesman Matthew Miller described the Trump administration’s involvement as ‘critical’ to getting the deal over the finish line. 

Trump also touted his administration’s involvement in a social media post Jan. 15, claiming it occurred ‘as a result of our Historic Victory in November, as it signaled to the entire World that my Administration would seek Peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans, and our Allies.’

Although Biden said the two teams had been ‘speaking as one team’ during the negotiations, he also mocked suggestions that Trump was responsible for securing the ceasefire deal. 

‘Who in the history books gets credit for this, Mr. President, you or Trump?’ Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich asked Biden Jan. 15 after a White House news conference.

‘Is that a joke?’ Biden said. 

When Heinrich said it was not, Biden replied, ‘Oh. Thank you.’ 

The Associated Press and Fox News’ Emma Colton and Landon Mion contributed to this report.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday announced that he intends to nominate President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in securing a ceasefire and hostage agreement between Hamas and Israel.

It will be Pakistan’s second time putting up Trump for the prize. In June, Pakistan nominated Trump for his role in securing a ceasefire agreement between Islamabad and neighboring India.

‘Pakistan had nominated President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his outstanding, extraordinary contributions to first stop the war between India and Pakistan and then achieve a ceasefire, along with his very wonderful team,’ Sharif said in Egypt, speaking next to Trump.

‘And today, again, I would like to nominate this great president for the Nobel Peace Prize because I genuinely feel that he is the most genuine and most wonderful candidate for the Peace Prize because he has brought not only peace in South Asia, saving millions of people and their lives,’ he added. ‘And today, here in Sharm el-Sheikh, achieving peace in Gaza is saving millions of lives in the Middle East.’

Trump and Sharif were part of a delegation of world leaders gathered in Egypt’s coastal resort area of Sharm el-Sheikh to sign documents related to the peace deal in Gaza.

After announcing his intention to nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, Sharif turned to the president and made a brief saluting gesture toward him.

‘Mr. President, I would like to salute you for your exemplary, visionary leadership. I think you are the man this world needs most at this point in time. The world will always remember you as a man who did everything — who went out of his way to stop seven and, today, eight wars,’ Sharif added.

Last week, the Nobel Committee in Norway awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.

While introducing the other world leaders, Trump appeared to chide Norway over last week’s choice.

‘Oh, Norway — aye, yay, yay,’ Trump said. ‘Norway. What happened, Norway? What happened?’

After facing backlash for staying silent as Israeli hostages were freed from Gaza, New York City socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani finally broke his silence Monday afternoon.

‘Today’s scenes of Israelis and Palestinians are profoundly moving: Israeli hostages being freed and families reunited after years of fear, uncertainty, and torture; the first days in Gaza without relentless Israeli bombardment of Palestinians as families return to rubble and loved ones freed from detention,’ Mamdani posted on X on Monday shortly after 4 p.m. EST in a message that did not mention President Donald Trump or acknowledge his role in the negotiations. 

Mamdani went on to mark the development as a ‘glimmer of hope’ that the ceasefire will ‘hold’ and the ‘long and difficult work of reconstruction can begin.’

‘I also know this news brings solace to millions of New Yorkers, who’ve felt the pain of the past few years,’ Mamdani said. ‘We have watched as our tax dollars have funded a genocide. The moral and human cost will be a lasting stain and requires accountability and real examination of our collective conscience and our government’s policies.’

Mamdani’s lengthy post concluded by saying that the ‘responsibility now lies’ with those who ‘believe in peace.’

‘Once aid is delivered, the wounded are cared for, and a lasting agreement secured, we cannot look away,’ Mamdani said. ‘We must work towards a future built upon justice, one without occupation and apartheid, and for a world where every person can live with safety and dignity.’

Mamdani’s post came roughly three hours after one of his opponents, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, called him out on social media for not commenting that morning as the hostages were released. 

‘It shouldn’t go unnoticed that @ZohrankMamdani — who still refuses to condemn the phrase ‘globalize the intifada’ (widely understood to mean death to Jews) — has yet to comment on the release of the hostages,’ Cuomo posted on X. ‘His silence speaks volumes.’

Both Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa released statements on social media earlier in the morning praising the release of the hostages, with Sliwa being the only one to offer praise to Trump by name. 

In a CNN interview on Friday, Mamdani hinted that he was open to giving Trump credit. 

‘If the genocide ends, then I think that’s something worthy to be praised, and if the hostages are returned,’ Mamdani said. ‘Those things together have to be done in tandem.’

Mamdani’s post quickly brought critical reactions, including from New York City GOP Councilwoman Inna Vernikov.

‘GLARINGLY MISSING FROM THIS WORD SALAD: Any single mention of HAMAS or the TERRORISTS who brought this upon themselves by murdering & raping their way across Israel on 10/7,’ Vernikov posted on X. ‘You know, the same terrorists that your wife was glorifying on her Instagram story? Those terrorists?’

Mamdani, who has been widely criticized for his comments and positions on Israel, spent Sunday night raising money for a United Nations organization that employed Oct. 7 terrorists, just hours before the final living Israeli hostages were released from Hamas captivity.

Trump celebrated ‘peace in the Middle East’ after he signed the historic peace agreement that ended two years of fighting in Gaza. 

‘At long last, we have peace in the Middle East, and it’s a very simple expression, peace in the Middle East,’ Trump said during remarks at Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, flanked by dozens of world leaders. 

‘We’ve heard it for many years, but nobody thought it could ever get there. And now we’re there.’ 

Trump went on: ‘This is the day that people across this region and around the world have been working, striving, hoping, and praying for. With the historic agreement we have just signed, those prayers of millions have finally been answered. Together, we have achieved the impossible.’

His remarks came after Hamas released the final remaining 20 living hostages on Monday as Israel backed off its frontline positioning in Gaza over the weekend. 

Fox News Digital reached out to the Mamdani campaign but did not immediately receive a response.

Fox News Digital’s Anders Hagstrom and Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.

Sometimes, data breaches result in more than just free credit monitoring. Recently, Facebook began paying out its $725 million settlement, and AT&T is preparing to distribute $177 million. Those payouts caught scammers’ attention.

Now, fake settlement claim emails and websites are flooding inboxes. They look convincing, but behind the plain design and official-sounding language is a trap for your Social Security number, banking info and more. So how can you make sure you get your money without losing even more in the process?

Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CyberGuy.com newsletter.

Why fake settlement sites are so convincing

Settlement claim websites rarely look polished. Most have generic layouts, long URLs and simple forms asking for a claim ID from your email or postcard. That makes it easy for scammers to mimic them. To test how simple it is, we created a fake settlement site (below) in minutes using AI tools like ChatGPT.

If we can do it, you can bet criminals are already exploiting the same shortcuts. Facebook has been the target. A fake site once popped up around the Equifax settlement, tricking thousands before it was shut down. The lesson? If the site appears unusual, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s fake, but it should prompt you to double-check before entering your details or clicking on any links.

Red flags that expose fake settlement sites

Spotting a scam often comes down to noticing the little details. Watch for these common warning signs before you hand over your information.

Requests for too much personal data

If a site asks for your full Social Security number or the names of your children, stop. For example, the official Equifax settlement only requested the last six digits of SSNs. Genuine claim sites may ask for limited info (like the last four digits of your SSN), but they rarely demand complete Social Security or bank details.

Promises of payout estimates upfront

Real administrators calculate payments only after the claim period closes.

Texts or social media messages

Settlements are announced by mail or email, not through random DMs or SMS.

Odd or misspelled URLs

Even one extra letter in the web address is a sign of a spoof site. Legitimate settlements use official or clearly named administrator domains. Be wary of addresses with unusual add-ons, such as ‘secure-pay’ or ‘claims-pay.’

Urgent language or countdowns

Scammers rely on urgency to pressure you into acting fast. Real settlement sites don’t demand 24-hour turnarounds.

Processing fee checkboxes

A sure giveaway of a fake. Real settlement administrators never require money to file or to receive your payout.

Cheap trust badges

Scam sites often throw in fake ‘secure’ seals. Look for recognized security seals and make sure they’re clickable and verifiable.

Generic contact info tied to the suspicious domain

Official sites list multiple, verifiable contacts. If the email or phone number matches the weird domain, that’s a red flag.

Grammar or spelling mistakes in the fine print

Sloppy errors in legal-sounding text are a classic sign you’re looking at a scam.

How to safely handle settlement claim notices

Before filing any claim, follow these steps to ensure you’re dealing with a legitimate settlement site and protecting your information.

1) Start at the FTC

The Federal Trade Commission keeps updated lists of approved class action settlements at ftc.gov/enforcement/refunds. The legitimate links always point to a .gov website. If your email sends you elsewhere, treat it with caution. 

2) Cross-check with other resources

Trusted outlets often cover large settlements and include safe links. ClassAction.org is another resource for checking legitimate URLs.

3) Skip the links, use the mail

Your claim notice may include a mailing address. Sending a paper form avoids the digital phishing minefield altogether.

4) Use strong antivirus software

Strong antivirus software can block malicious links, warn you about dangerous websites and prevent malware from taking over your device.

The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware and potentially access your private information is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.

Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com.

5) Try a data removal service

Data removal services work to scrub your personal information from broker lists, making it more difficult for criminals to target you.

While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.

Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting CyberGuy.com.

Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com.

6) Never pay to file

If a site asks for ‘administrative fees’ or a ‘processing charge,’ close it immediately. Real settlement administrators will never ask for money.

7) Report suspicious sites

Spot a fake? Protect others by reporting it to:

• The FTC Complaint Assistant at reportfraud.ftc.gov/
• The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov/
• The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at consumerfinance.gov/about-us/the-bureau/

Quick reporting helps authorities shut down scams before more people fall victim.

Can you tell a real email from a fake?

Take our quick quiz at Cyberguy.com/ScamChecko learn how to spot phishing scams, protect your inbox, and stay a step ahead of hackers. 

Kurt’s key takeaways

Class action settlements can feel like rare wins for consumers after data breaches. But scammers see them as easy hunting grounds. The best defense is skepticism. Check URLs, avoid clicking direct links and never give away details that don’t match the claim’s purpose. Your payout should help you recover, not put you at greater risk.

Have you ever received a settlement notice that felt suspicious, and how did you handle it? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CyberGuy.com newsletter.

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