Forest, meanwhile, have won just two of their past nine Premier League games.

Crucially, one of those was a 2-1 victory at West Ham last month, which kept the Hammers from moving one point behind.

And, even when Nuno Espirito Santo’s side beat Sunderland two weeks ago, Forest reacted with an impressive 2-0 win at Brentford 24 hours later.

Those results were achieved, however, with a first-choice defence – and the absence of Matz Sels with a groin injury has been a huge loss too.

It was a gamble to replace last season’s joint Golden Glove winner with John Victor in December and one which ultimately backfired, with Victor himself now also sidelined for the rest of the campaign.

That prompted Forest to bring in Stefan Ortega from Manchester City during the transfer window – but his debut against Leeds meant a defence which was so consistent last season was only changed further.

Zach Abbott was another debutant at Elland Road, the 19-year-old making his first Premier League appearance in the absence of injured defender Murillo.

Abbott was targeted in the first half as Leeds seized on his inexperience – although Leeds‘ goals were ultimately down to a collective failure.

At the beginning of this week, the WNBA and WNBA Players Association had an in-person meeting to discuss the new collective bargaining agreement. It was the first in-person meeting between the two sides in months.

Per reporting by ESPN and Front Office Sports, about 40 players and more than a half dozen team owners and executives were present at the meeting. On Friday, CBS Sports spoke exclusively to one of the players who attended the meeting via Zoom: Elizabeth Williams, the secretary of the WNBPA.

Williams is currently in Europe, where she is playing for Galatasaray of the Turkish Women’s Basketball Super League during the WNBA offseason. The 32-year-old center was the fourth overall pick in the 2015 draft and has been a longtime member of the WNBPA executive committee. She most recently played for the Chicago Sky, but like all but two veterans in the WNBA, is currently a free agent.

The WNBPA opted out of the current CBA at the end of the 2024 season. While the CBA originally expired on Oct. 31, 2025, the league and union agreed to two extensions. But on Jan. 9, when the second extension expired, the two sides entered a period of status quo, meaning the conditions of the current CBA remain in place, but either side can enact a work stoppage at any time. In December, the union voted to authorize a strike “if necessary.” 

Despite the ongoing stalemate, the WNBA released its 2026 schedule in late January. At the time, a WNBA spokesperson told CBS Sports that the schedule release was “a key step as we prepare for the WNBA’s 30th season and allows teams, partners, broadcasters and fans to begin the essential planning for the year ahead.” Training camps are supposed to open on April 19, and the first game is scheduled for May 8, just over three months away. The league still needs to hold free agency, the college draft and, perhaps most importantly, expansion drafts for the two newest WNBA franchises, the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo.

The main point of contention between the league and players is the revenue-sharing model and salary structure. In the league’s most recent proposal, players would get about 70% of net revenue, which is the revenue remaining when league-specified operating expenses are removed from the pot. The union countered that offer with a proposal that would see the players get about 30% of gross revenue, which is all team and league revenue, before expenses.

The WNBPA sent its latest proposal to the league in late December. The league has yet to counter that proposal, and did not bring one to the meeting on Monday, which reportedly frustrated players. When the two sides left the meeting on Monday, the WNBA made it clear that the league understood it was its turn to respond and that a new proposal was coming soon. As of publication, the WNBPA has still not received a proposal from the league.

On Friday afternoon, Williams spoke to CBS Sports about what led to the meeting, how she felt the meeting went, reports of discord in the union’s executive committee, the possibility of a strike, her faith in leadership and whether she believes a deal will be done by the end of this month.

The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Gibbs: I know you were at the meeting on Monday via zoom. Some players have expressed frustration that the meeting didn’t start with a proposal from the league. Was that something that surprised you? And how did you feel the meeting went?

Williams: Yeah, I was a little surprised by that, especially knowing that players were going to be there in person. I think just having something would have been better than nothing. I do think as the conversation went on and the league side and ownership side could hear from people in person and hear the tone of why these issues matter, I think that helped the conversation, and I think it facilitated the level of urgency that’s needed. 

Gibbs: You use the word “urgency.” And I think from the public, it’s felt like there’s been a lack of urgency on both sides. You know, we’re now in February, and getting so close to the season. Have you felt the sense of urgency on the player’s side, and is that escalating as the clock continues to tick?

Williams: Yeah. I mean, I think the urgency is there on our side. I don’t think we would have had that meeting in person if the urgency wasn’t there. I think that was an explicit moment of, “OK. I think you really need to see us to understand where we’re coming from and why we need to come up with this deal ASAP.” I think the league has kind of operated from a place of comfort and complacency in the sense that they released the season schedule without our CBA being negotiated, like, they’re just very confident in what they’ve put out. And I think that’s where the disconnect was. After that, I think players really were like, “OK, the urgency is there from our end. And they just seem to think everything is fine without us agreeing.”

Gibbs: So you felt that the schedule release was a tipping point for the players, maybe that you all felt disrespected by that?

Williams: I think that’s fair to say, because I think it’s bold to put out a schedule without having anything agreed on. You have teams putting out schedules, and these teams don’t have players on them. That’s kind of mind-boggling to me. And so it said a lot about where they stood in the negotiations and feeling like they weren’t really going to budge. And I think after this meeting on Monday, that’s not the case at all. I think there is room for movement, and I think on both sides, I mean, I think players are willing to move on certain things that maybe the league wasn’t at an understanding of before. So maybe that’s just a reminder, like, we’re still negotiating in good faith. And that’s going to help us move forward.

Gibbs: Do you feel like they took you all more seriously after this meeting on Monday?

Williams: Yeah, I would say so.

Gibbs: What misconceptions do you feel like people have about what the players are asking for?

Williams: I think there’s a misconception about how much the league is losing moving forward. Because when you talk about the investment that has gone into the league, when you talk about the valuations of teams, when you talk about expansion fees, all of these things that the league might not consider, like, traditional revenue, it’s still dollars that are coming in. I don’t think you would see the pace of expansion if the league wasn’t growing. And so I think there’s just a misconception of our understanding of that and how that is going to impact our salaries and everything moving forward.

Gibbs: There’s a narrative that is coming out that the players are asking for so much that it’s going to handicap the league, that it’s going to shut down the growth, and that maybe the players don’t understand how much owners are spending and how much it is costing to run the WNBA. How do you respond to that?

Williams: I don’t think we’re being irresponsible. I think that’s what that translates to — that players are being irresponsible, they’re asking for this amount of money, blah blah. I don’t think it’s that at all. I think there are plenty of areas of revenue opportunities for the league and for the teams. I think at the end of the day, the product is most important, and I think the product is continuing to grow. There’s a lot of young talent, and that’s what brings in fans and excites fans. And there’s also still the fact that this league has existed for 30 years, there’s a fandom that’s here that is going to continue to be built on. And so I think all of those things, all the opportunities for revenue to come in, I really don’t think that we’re being irresponsible in how we are presenting what we think we should be getting.

Gibbs: Caitlin Clark was on NBC this week, and she talked about how this isn’t just a big moment for the WNBA, it’s a big moment for all of women’s sports. And I wondered how much you think about this as not just a movement for your league, but a movement for women’s sports and maybe women’s labor rights in general?

Williams: I agree. I mean, it’s kind of wild, especially considering how transformational the last CBA was right for us, and now this moment is that times 100, you know? I think there’s that understanding, and I think that’s why our leadership is being so intentional in how we communicate in the meetings that we have with the league and the meetings that we have with players. 

We’re just in this age where, like, you can see everything. And so there’s an understanding, if this labor is being put in, and you see these dollars coming from TV, see these dollars coming from investment, from expansion, everyone can see that. Why isn’t it reflected in salaries? I think this CBA is going to be that example for sports, of course, but just for women in general. If the work is being put in and the signs are there, then it needs to be reflected, period. And that’s the time that we’re that we’re living in.

Gibbs: You’ve been in the league for so long, you’ve played so many different roles – you’ve been the All-Star, you’ve been the veteran, you’ve been a starter, you’ve come off the bench, you’ve been on so many teams. How have you personally experienced the growth of the league, and what most surprises you about the growth you’ve seen in the past decade?

Williams: Oh, man, there’s so many changes. We joke about it in the locker room with [Maddy Westbeld and Hailey Van Lith] sometimes, sharing rooms on the road, right? Like, that’s something that a lot of people just seem to forget that you had to do that until you were in your sixth year. And then going from that to selling out 20,000 seats for arenas for a regular-season game. For the travel, obviously, the charters, and just overall, the growth from the fans, too. I think it’s just been huge. So all of those things are big. I think people just care more. People are watching more. They’re paying attention. People are inspired about 2020 and the impact that we had with Say Her Name, with Black Lives Matter and Senator Warnock. All of that comes from, yes, the product on the floor, but the type of impact that we have off the floor. And so I think all of that is kind-of reflected in how we’ve been approaching this negotiation, too. We do things together. We’re committed to doing things the right way and doing what we believe is right. So, yeah, it’s been nuts to see how much the league has grown, and deservedly so.

Gibbs: Caitlin Clark also said she thought that in the next few weeks there would be a deal done. I know [Breanna Stewart] had previously said she thought one could get done by Feb. 1. Obviously, that didn’t happen. It can be hard to answer, because it’s not in your control. But how, how confident are you that a deal will get done this month?

Williams: I mean, I would hope so, given that free agency was supposed to start on the first, but again, I think the fact that as of now another proposal hasn’t been sent, that’s not ideal. So I don’t know, I’ve been using the phrase “cautiously optimistic” for a very long time, but I still remain that way because I’m still confident that in in our staff and in our advisors, that we’re still in a position that a deal will get done. So as of now, yeah, I’ll continue to use “cautiously optimistic” as my phrase.

Gibbs: Are the players still ready to strike if necessary?

Williams: I’ll say we didn’t have the strike authorization vote for nothing. So we’re in a position, obviously, if we need to strike, we will. But as far as actually voting on it, we’re relying on our staff and our advisors. If they’re like, “Hey, I think this is time to have that, that vote or that conversation.” And as of now, they haven’t advised us to do so. So that’s where we stand as far as a strike is concerned. I think if the conversation changes with leadership and with legal counsel, and they say, “Hey, this is where I think the conversation should shift,” okay, then we can talk about the vote. But ultimately, we have the strike authorization vote in our back pocket if we need it, and then the [Executive Committee] can talk about striking if necessary.

Gibbs: But you know from talking with other players — the players want to play. You all know this is a big season, and you want to keep the momentum going. Is that fair to say?

Williams: Definitely fair to say. People want to play. There’s not a question. We just want to make sure we get it right. 

Gibbs: I’ll let you have the final word. If there’s anything I didn’t ask or anything you want to communicate?

Williams: I mean, to the fans, we see them. We see them supporting us, and we appreciate their patience with us and with this process, and their patience with the league, too. It matters to us, and they matter to us. As much as we all want to play, we also want to play for the fans. That’s a big part of the WNBA, the fandom and the people that have been with us from the beginning. So we’re doing what we can. We’re not sitting here resting. There are things that we can move on, and we’ve communicated that, just like the league has things that they can move on. We want to play, but we also want to put current players and future players in a position where they’ve gotten the best deal that they could possibly get.

NFL free agency kicks off in 4.5 weeks, and according to CBS Sports, the Minnesota Vikings’ best option on the open market is to re-sign quarterback Kirk Cousins. The Atlanta Falcons are expected to drop Cousins in the next few weeks, and if so, Minnesota should pounce, says Jared Dubin.

The Cousins angle remains polarizing, but the idea might fit Minnesota’s need for experienced depth while McCarthy’s timeline continues to evolve.

The Vikings would blend the past and future with the move, and it might just make sense if head coach and de facto general manager Kevin O’Connell still thinks Cousins has the juice in 2026.

CBS Sports Puts Cousins Back in Play for MIN

Yep, Cousins is the recommendation.

CBS Sports on Vikings: Reunite with Kirk

Cousins left the Vikings after the 2023 campaign, spending six seasons in Minneapolis and totaling one playoff win along the way.

Dubin claims Minnesota now needs him back: “With the J.J. McCarthy experiment seemingly going off the rails, the Vikings need to bring in a veteran quarterback to compete with him and/or be the backup and fill-in starter in case things don’t go well again.”

“Cousins is likely set to hit free agency given his contractual situation, and we know he is familiar with both the Vikings and Kevin O’Connell’s system, making this an easy, comfortable fit.”

Other teams, like the Kansas City Chiefs, were connected to men like Breece Hall. Dubin spitballed Trey Hendrickson for the Indianapolis Colts. For Minnesota, it’s Cousins.

Vikings Offseasons Can Never Shake Cousins

Minnesota’s offseason quarterback plan starts with uncertainty. McCarthy’s transition to the NFL has been uneven, defined more by [bad] availability than development. He’s missed roughly 70% of games due to injury, and in his first season as a starter, he finished last in leaguewide efficiency metrics among quarterbacks. Both factoids have pressed the Vikings’ decision-makers to explore a quarterback competition this offseason.

And that’s where contingency comes into play. If the Vikings recommit to McCarthy in 2026, they’ll need insulation behind him. Cousins checks boxes that few others can. He knows O’Connell’s offense inside and out and has already adjusted to life as a QB2 in Atlanta. He might know his role.

Even when Cousins carried a massive contract in Atlanta, Minnesota kept surfacing as the most logical landing spot in league chatter. With Cousins now more attainable, the logic hasn’t disappeared one bit.

This Time, the Money Would Work

For once, the money wouldn’t be the obstacle for Cousins’s theories. He hasn’t operated in the bargain aisle since his rookie deal — nine years ago — and his reputation for maximizing earnings is Hall of Fame-worthy. At 37, and with Cousins already being paid by Atlanta for 2026, a team can sign him for cheap if he’s released. Think: Russell Wilson to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024.

In 2026 free agency, the Vikings could realistically sign Cousins at a reduced rate and ask him to stabilize the room for a year or two while McCarthy develops. The decision comes down to philosophy. Minnesota has committed to a forward-facing timeline with McCarthy as QB1. The question is whether the O’Connell is willing to look “backward” at Cousins. Perhaps, perhaps not.

Cousins could also be an option for the New York Jets. The Jets Way‘s David Wyatt-Upton wrote this week:

I feel as though the name Kirk Cousins has been swirling around the Jets for a while. We were linked to him before he signed in Atlanta, we were linked with him last off-season and we were linked with him any time his contract was running down in Minnesota. Whether there was any fire to that smoke us unknown, but here we are again. We need a QB, Kirk Cousins is likely to be available, will he finally call NY home?

I will say right from the start that it’s hard to hitch your tent to a QB when you don’t know who the OC will be. You don’t know the style, the system, or the traits that are required to make it all work. But based on the names being mentioned as front-runners for the Jets, I feel relatively confident in stating Cousins would make a lot of sense for the Jets.

Shooting for the Stars?

The argument against Cousins? It feels like a mid-tier solution. Cousins never banked consistent playoff-winning success in Minnesota during his physical prime. Would things get better in the final season or two of his career? If so, how would that happen?

Subtracting Cousins from the offseason rumor mill, the Vikings could hunt big-name quarterbacks who may or may not be for sale — like Joe Burrow or Lamar Jackson.

Or the organization could explore realistic trade options for Kyler Murray or Mac Jones. Neither will turn 38 this summer like Cousins. Both are in their 20s.

Cousins to Minnesota would make sense if the Vikings still believe in McCarthy as the long-term QB1. They could sign a reunion contract as a matter of McCarthy insurance.

A grand takeaway from the decision to fire GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is that nailing the layups must happen. At No. 12 in 2022, the Vikings should have picked All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton instead of trading, a truth that has been discussed ad nauseam.

Are the recent QB comments from Adofo-Mensah another instance of missing a layup?

Back on January 13th, Adofo-Mensah stepped in front of the Minnesota media. Was there still an ongoing desire to have J.J. McCarthy functioning as the starting passer? Check out the answer: “I don’t know that that’s…I want the Vikings to achieve our goals. And I think one of those goals is to make playoff runs and do different things like that. I think he has the character and ability to be the person to do that for our organization; if I say that in 2026, that kind of binds us into a certain area.”

Afterwards, Adofo-Mensah uplifted the need to create a “deep competitive room” at quarterback.

J.J. McCarthy, The Fired GM, & The QB Comments

Maybe Adofo-Mensah was a bit gun shy.

In the past, he made comments that took on a life of their own. Almost certainty, the former Vikings executive didn’t expect his quip about pursuing a “competitive rebuild” to catch fire in the manner that it did. Looking around at other things he has said (champagne problem?) could lead to similar regret about how comments get pulled out of proportion, becoming a caricature of the original meaning.

But while choosing words carefully is undoubtedly a good thing, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could have done better when answering about his desire (or lack thereof) for Mr. McCarthy to come back as the QB1.

Consider, for instance, an imaginary example of affirming belief in McCarthy without crowning McCarthy: “Yes, of course, I want McCarthy to be the starter, but that’s ultimately a decision for the coaching staff and McCarthy himself. We’ll build up a deep, competitive QB position and McCarthy will work toward proving that he deserves to remain as the starter. All of us here will ensure that he has everything he needs to succeed.”

Now that would have been a better answer.

Obviously, being able to comment on the question close to a month after it got asked is much easier than thinking on the fly. But there’s the other side of things: Adofo-Mensah was (at the time he answered) working toward the end of his fourth season as an NFL GM. He had to know going into the presser that questions about McCarthy and the QB position more broadly were coming.

Also notable is that the McCarthy answer — or non-answer, depending on one’s perspective — is that it came on the heels of acknowledging a failure in not being able to retain Daniel Jones.

Standing back could therefore lead to a bleak assessment.

The Vikings were overconfident in their ability to retain Jones, contributing toward losing Jones to the Colts. Minnesota then pledged its allegiance to an unproven McCarthy. The loyalty was so strong that there was a failure to add legitimate competition. Sam Howell did get tossed into the mix, but he was never a serious threat. Carson Wentz eventually got signed, but adding a veteran journeyman in late August was no threat to the QB1 spot.

After all of that, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah couldn’t articulate a deep desire to see his No. 10 selection from 2024 continue as the starter into 2026.

Now, that’s not to say that the former GM didn’t have a plan. In no way is that true.

The QB comments didn’t get into these particulars, but Adofo-Mensah opted to enhance the roster is such a robust way so as to lift much of the burden off McCarthy’s shoulders for 2025. Most notably, there was the aggressive spending in the trenches. Adofo-Mensah therefore had a plan. In the absence of actual QB competition, the Vikings decided to give J.J. McCarthy all of the resources he could possibly require for success.

The plan failed. The Vikings missed the playoffs. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah then got fired. Whether J.J. McCarthy is the ongoing QB1 remains to be seen. NFL free agency begins in a touch more than a month.

Someday, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is going to get another shot in the NFL. He’ll need to handle the easy shots that come his way, such as committing toward a highly-picked passer without boxing himself into a corner.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

Country music singer Brantley Gilbert was tapped to perform at Turning Point USA’s “All-American Halftime Show” Sunday to counter Bad Bunny’s spectacle at the Super Bowl.

Gilbert will be one of four performers at the Turning Point USA event. Kid Rock is the headliner along with Lee Brice and Gabby Barrett. 

Gilbert has been performing professionally since 2007 and released his debut album in 2009.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Brantley Gilbert performs for fans before the start of the NASCAR Toyota – Save Mart 350 race at Sonoma Raceway on June 12, 2022. (Stan Szeto/USA Today Sports)

He may not be a household name for some Americans and football fans. He addressed those who were asking who he is and why he’s performing at the event.

“I’m a songwriter who grew up, and still lives in Jackson County, Georgia, whose goal in the music business was to sell out the local theater a few miles from my house and somehow make my living writing songs,” he said in a statement. 

“I’m a recovering addict with the history of all the bad choices that come with it. I’m not proud of those choices, but I am proud of the choice I’ve made to live in another direction.

“I share my story through my music in hopes that it may help and inspire others in their darkest hour. I’m a Christian, and I love our country despite its flaws. I’ve dedicated part of my life to the men and women who fight for it and the families of those who gave their life for it. Above all, I’m a proud husband and father of three.”

EX-ESPN STAR SHARES THE ‘DISTURBING’ THING ABOUT BAD BUNNY PERFORMING AT SUPER BOWL LX

Brantley Gilbert arrives on the red carpet for the 59th Annual CMA Awards at Music City Center in Nashville, Tenn., Nov. 19, 2025. (Andrew Nelles/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

Gilbert added that he wanted to perform for his children and that it’s been more than 20 years since a country artist had been asked to perform at halftime of the Super Bowl.

“We’re celebrating 250 years as a country, and it’s been more than 20 years since a country artist has been asked to play the Super Bowl halftime show. I respect that some people may see this differently, but I’m not playing this show to be divisive. I was offered this opportunity and imagined my kids watching their daddy perform at halftime during the biggest game in American football. Everything I do, I do for them.

“The way I treat people isn’t conditional based on what our differences may be. I believe “united we stand, divided we fall,” and my prayer for our country is that we stand united.”

He said he was looking forward to putting on an epic show Sunday.

Turning Point USA said the show will air live on YouTube, X and Rumble in addition to other conservative news outlets.

“The All-American Halftime Show” is scheduled to air around 8 p.m. ET on Feb. 8 and will feature performances from artists including Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice and Gabby Barrett, according to the nonprofit organization. (Turning Point USA)

Andrew Kolvet, TPUSA’s spokesman, previously told Fox News Digital the broadcast will provide families a different viewing option that will give the viewer an immersive and high-energy experience.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

“‘The All-American Halftime Show’ is an opportunity for all Americans to enjoy a halftime show with no agenda other than to celebrate faith, family and freedom,” Kolvet said. “We can’t wait to watch the incredible show they’re about to put on. We know millions around the country will be watching too.”

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Before the show tonight, there were protests on the streets of Milan as hundreds of people, mostly students according to reports, voiced their unhappiness at the presence of American ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents in Italy.

Our correspondent Elisabetta Galla was at the protests today and passed on the following information:

Many were protesting about the social issues in Milan, such as rising rent costs and how spending money on an Olympic Games was not the right choice right now. Others were upset about the environmental impact of all the new construction that has gone on, particularly in Cortina. There were also protesters about Isreal being at the Games and not being banned like Russia. Around 10,000 protesters from all across Italy are expected in Milan tomorrow, but tonight, in front of the stadium, Galla reports a totally different atmosphere with many happy people from Milan who are proud of hosting the Olympics.

The US ambassador to Italy, Tilman J. Fertitta, recently said that the ICE officers would be deployed “only in an advisory and intelligence capacity, without patrolling or enforcement measures.”

This is likely in reference to the Homeland Security Investigations unit, which is a unit within ICE that focuses on cross-border crimes. It frequently sends officers to events like the Olympics to help with security, and they are completely seperate from those currently at the forefront of the immigration crackdown in the US. However, as the protests show, any ICE presence in the country has increased the tension.

US vice president JD Vance and secretary of state, Marco Rubio, will be at the opening ceremony tonight, and Vance met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni earlier on Friday. Meloni said sport and religion were “values that keep together Italy and the US, Europe and the US, Western civilisation.”

President Donald Trump has shared a video of activist Laura Loomer asking CNN lead anchor Jake Tapper to apologize. Loomer claimed that fake news via CNN led to his attempted assassination.

On February 6, Donald Trump shared the video of Laura Loomer questioning CNN’s Washington lead anchor, Jake Tapper. The post did not include any caption. In the video, Loomer was seen saying:

“Have some courage for once, apologize for all of your fake news at CNN that has led to this intensive assassination of President Trump. Jake, shameful behavior from CNN. You guys have blood on your hands. You have blood on your hands.”

Loomer added:

“Jake, when are you going to apologize to the American people for lying about President Trump for years? When are you going to call out Joe Biden for saying that it’s time to put President Trump in a bullseye? Come on, you guys talking so much. Sh*tty.”

Loomer was seemingly referring to the two assassination attempts of the current President during the 2024 Presidential election promotions. In July 2024, the Republican president, who was then the Republican nominee, survived a shooting attempt in Pennsylvania. He was at the spot as part of a rally ahead of the elections. Two months later, in September 2024, Trump survived another assassination attempt while playing golf at his club in Florida.

Laura Loomer defends Donald Trump after the President shares alleged racist video of the Obamas

President Trump faced immense criticism after allegedly sharing a controversial clip where multiple US leaders were depicted as animals. The 62-second clip featured former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michele Obama as monkeys. The video, shared on February 6 through the President’s official handle on TruthSocial, faced major backlash for being allegedly racist towards the Obamas.

The video was later removed from the account. A staff member from the White House mentioned that the video was “erroneously” shared from the account. Further, multiple Republican leaders also demanded that Trump apologize for the video, including Senator Tim Scott, who is a Black man.

Speaking about the video, Laura Loomer staunchly defended the President, claiming he did “nothing wrong.” In a February 6 post, Laura Loomer wrote:

“DONALD TRUMP DID NOTHING WRONG! @LoomerUnleashed has the full video that features the Obamas as monkeys. Spoiler Alert: Every single Deep State official is featured as an animal in this full video because Washington DC is a ZOO! The fake news media and RINOs like @votetimscott are lying. They are deliberately not showing you the full video because they want to pretend like Trump is racist against black people. The reality is, nobody has done more for black people than President Trump.”

Further, Laura Loomer also claims the President does not write his own posts and his staff compose them for him. She wrote in another X post:

“President Trump doesn’t post on his own social media accounts. His staff posts for him. He dictates the text on the long posts, and then they type it. For the memes and photos, those are posted by staff. I have spent enough time with President Trump to know he doesn’t type the posts himself.”

Barack and Michelle Obama have yet to comment on the video. President Trump has also not made any public statements about the same.