Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, one of three likely 2024 White House hopefuls to join the upcoming GOP debate stage next month, reportedly said that the notion of the United States ‘reevaluating’ its United Nations member or potentially pulling out of NATO is ‘reasonable.’ 

Ramaswamy made the remarks to Politico in Iowa. 

He was asked to reply to a recent Rolling Stones article claiming former President Donald Trump had been talked out of backing out of NATO during his first term and was now considering – if he gets elected again – of ensuring the United States only maintains a ‘standby’ position in the transatlantic military alliance formed after World War II. 

‘It’s a reasonable idea that I have considered,’ Ramaswamy told Politico, considering the idea but falling short of committing to doing so if elected. 

‘I am also open to reevaluating U.S. involvement in the UN,’ he reportedly added without elaborating. 

Ramaswamy has frequently butted heads with GOP presidential rival Nikki Haley, Trump’s former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and more of a traditionalist on foreign policy. 

The two, as well as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, will take to the third GOP presidential debate stage in Miami on Nov. 8. It’s unlikely Trump, who skipped the first two, will participate. 

Sources told Rolling Stone that, if elected, Trump does not want to fill his next administratio with ‘NATO lovers.’ The debate comes amid the Israel-Hamas war, as Ramaswamy has urged members of Congress to vote against President Biden’s proposed $106 billion aid package to the Jewish state and Ukraine. 

‘The U.S. should be clear with Israel that further U.S. support is contingent on Israel identifying clear objectives for success in Gaza and a coherent plan for what comes after toppling Hamas even if Israel is successful in doing so,’ Ramaswamy told Politico on Saturday. ‘As of now, these critical questions remain unanswered.’ 

Iran-backed militias in Iraq have claimed they were responsible for an attack on U.S. forces at a strategic base in southeastern Syria.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iranian-backed militias, said Monday that their forces used two drones to attack the al-Tanf garrison near the Jordanian and Iraqi borders, a sensitive location often used by Iranian-backed militants to transport weapons to Hezbollah.

Monday’s attack comes after a string of similar attacks on bases housing U.S. military in Iraq and Syria over the past week. In one, the same group attacked two bases in Iraq with drones, causing minor injuries among U.S. forces.

The U.S. military has maintained a presence at the al-Tanf garrison since training forces as part of a campaign against the Islamic State group. The U.S. currently has about 900 U.S. troops in Syria.

Two U.S. defense officials confirm to Fox News a base housing U.S. troops in Syria was attacked by drones this morning. No injuries have been reported. Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder later confirmed the attack.

Iraq has said its military will go after militants who were responsible for these attacks against army bases housing U.S. troops, Iraqi army spokesperson Maj. Gen. Yahya Rasoul said.

In a statement Monday, Rasoul said the country’s security agencies have been tasked by the country’s prime minister to go after those who carried out attacks and prevent any attempt to harm Iraq’s national security.

Rasoul also clarified that military advisers from the U.S.-led coalition are in the country ‘at the invitation of the government’ to train Iraqi forces and prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State group.

Over the past week, several bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq came under rocket and drone attacks. There are about 2,500 U.S. troops in Iraq.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed last week’s attacks in a statement on Thursday.

‘In the last 24 hours, the U.S. military defended against three drones near U.S. and Coalition forces in Iraq. In western Iraq, U.S. forces engaged two drones, destroying one and damaging the second, resulting in minor injuries to Coalition forces. Separately in northern Iraq, U.S. forces engaged and destroyed a drone, resulting in no injuries or damage. We are continuing to assess the impacts to operations,’ CENTCOM said.

‘In this moment of heightened alert, we are vigilantly monitoring the situation in Iraq and the region. We want to emphasize U.S. forces will defend U.S. and Coalition forces against any threat,’ they added.

The attacks in Iraq and Syria come as the United States has sought to contain a war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The war, in its 17th day as of Monday, is the deadliest both sides have seen in Israel’s 75-year history as a country. 

Fox News’ Liz Friden, Sarah Rumpf-Whitten and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Rapper 50 Cent sent social media ablaze over the weekend with a post blasting President Biden for taking another beach vacation in Delaware as chaos continued to unfold in the war between Israel and Hamas.

‘Hey Joe get the f— up, we in trouble man!’ 50 Cent posted on Instagram over the weekend with a screenshot from an article titled, ‘Biden hits the beach with Middle East, Congress in Chaos.’

In a follow-up post that screenshots an article with a headline saying, ’50 Cent flames Biden,’ the rapper wrote, ‘We got some real s— going on out here Joe. What’s the plan to get a tan and chill come on now.’

The post drew immediate reaction from conservatives on social media who agreed with the rapper.

‘Rapper [50 Cent] doubles down on his criticism of Joe Biden,’ Students for Trump founder Ryan Fournier posted on X, formerly Twitter. ‘People are waking up!’

‘Rapper 50 Cent calls out Joe Biden for sleeping on the beach while our country and world suffers because of his failures,’ Alex Bruesewitz, a Trump influencer and CEO of X Strategies LLC, posted on X.

’50 Cent has a question for Joe Biden and it is what we are all thinking,’ the social media team for Twitchy.com posted on X.

‘[50 Cent] speaking truth,’ Make America Great Again spokesperson Karoline Leavitt posted on X.

Fox News Digital reached out to 50 Cent’s representatives but did not receive a response.

White House deputy spokesperson Andrew Bates pushed back against the criticisms, saying, ‘As has been the case for the better part of a century, presidents can execute the full range of their duties from anywhere in the world – whether it’s a war zone in Israel or 100 miles from the White House in Delaware.’

Bates went on to tell Fox News Digital that Biden ‘works long hours every day’ and that he spoke with several world leaders about his ‘support for Israel’s right to defend itself and push for aid to innocent Palestinians,’ including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

‘And he delivered more security assistance to Israel, a second shipment of aid to Palestinian civilians, and made progress toward passage of his supplemental to protect our national security, increase border funding, and grow our economy,’ Bates continued. ‘Meanwhile, House Republicans were on recess bickering with each other.’

Biden was at his beach home in Delaware over the weekend as chaos continued to unfold in the war between Israel and Hamas while House Republicans failed to confirm a speaker to replace Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.

‘Americans are still being held hostage by Hamas terrorists – and Joe Biden is at the beach,’ a social media account belonging to the Republican National Committee posted on X.

Biden has faced consistent criticism from conservatives for the amount of time he has spent in Delaware. The New York Post reported in August that he had spent 40% of his presidency on personal overnight trips away from the White House, which put him on pace to become ‘America’s most idle commander in chief.’

Federal prosecutors will appear for transcribed interviews behind closed doors at the House Judiciary Committee this week amid the panel’s investigation into alleged politicization of the Hunter Biden probe.

Fox News has learned that U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, Martin Estrada, will sit for a transcribed interview on Tuesday, and DOJ Tax Division attorney Stuart Goldberg is expected to sit for his interview Wednesday.

The requests for DOJ officials to answer questions before the committee come after allegations of politicization and misconduct at the Justice Department agencies throughout the years-long probe into the president’s son.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, has been negotiating with the Justice Department to have federal prosecutors involved in the Biden investigation to testify before his committee for months.

Special Counsel David Weiss, who is overseeing the government’s investigation into Biden, is now expected to appear for his transcribed interview on Nov. 7 behind closed doors.

The Justice Department had initially offered Weiss for public testimony back in July. A Justice Department source told Fox News that they would prefer Weiss testify in public.

Attorney General Merrick Garland tapped Weiss in August to serve as special counsel with jurisdiction over the Biden investigation and any other issues that have come up, or may come up, related to that probe.

Weiss, the U.S. attorney for Delaware, has been leading the Biden investigation since 2018. His appointment as special counsel came amid allegations that politics had influenced or hampered prosecutorial decisions in the yearslong investigation into the president’s son. 

In his first move as special counsel, Weiss charged Biden with making a false statement in the purchase of a firearm; making a false statement related to information required to be kept by a federal firearms licensed dealer; and one count of possession of a firearm by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance.

The president’s son pleaded not guilty to all charges earlier this month. 

Weiss has said the investigation into the president’s son is ongoing. 

Weiss’ interview comes amid House Republicans’ impeachment inquiry against President Biden. 

The status of the impeachment inquiry is unclear, however, after the ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as House speaker. 

Republicans are meeting Monday evening to hear from the nine GOP lawmakers pitching themselves for the top job in the House of Representatives.

The candidate who gets a majority of the conference vote in a secret ballot Tuesday morning will become House Republicans’ next speaker designate, but still has to win at least 217 votes to clinch the gavel.

Fox News Digital took a look at how the higher-profile names in the race are pitching themselves.

Tom Emmer

The No. 3 House Republican, Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., is the highest-ranking GOP lawmaker running for speaker. Emmer touted those credentials in a Saturday letter to colleagues, emphasizing Republicans’ legislative wins and reminding them that he helped the GOP win its razor-thin majority as chair of House Republicans’ campaign arm.

‘At the NRCC (National Republican Congressional Committee), we fought side by side and worked for every inch of this majority in districts across the country,’ he wrote. ‘As your Majority Whip, we showed just how effective we can be when members from across the Conference come together and apply that same culture of teamwork, communications, and respect.’

Byron Donalds

Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., rolled out a broad but straightforward mandate for his would-be speakership. In a statement Friday, he said, ‘My sole focus will be securing our border, funding our government responsibly, advancing a conservative vision for the House of Representatives and the American people, and expanding our Republican majority.’

Donalds also pointed out that he would be the first African-American speaker if elected.

The Freedom Caucus Republican has quickly made a name for himself as a popular face in the media, and has already scored support from three Florida Republicans. Having only come to Congress in 2021, he is the shortest-serving candidate running.

Kevin Hern

Republican Study Committee Chair Kevin Hern handed out a memo to GOP lawmakers on Monday emphasizing the work he’s done to prepare for his bid for speaker, including contacting every member of the conference over the weekend ‘to hear about their priorities.’

The millionaire former McDonalds franchise owner, who now runs the largest conservative House caucus, also pointed out his private sector success. 

‘My 35 years of experience as a business leader makes me uniquely qualified to lead a diverse Republican Conference,’ Hern, R-Okla., wrote. ‘As Chairman of the Republican Study Committee, I have prioritized educating our members on key legislative items, listening to member priorities, and developing policy solutions well in advance of Congressional deadlines.’

His staff was giving out McDonalds’ hamburgers alongside his memo on Monday.

Mike Johnson and Gary Palmer

Vice GOP Conference Chair Mike Johnson, R-La., and Republican Policy Committee Chairman Gary Palmer, R-Ala., are, like Emmer, members of leadership who are throwing their hats in the ring for speaker.

Johnson’s pitch highlights his 20 years as a constitutional law attorney and his unanimous re-election to his leadership role last fall.

In his letter to colleagues, he alluded to himself as ‘a team player and a bridge-builder with endless energy and a unique mix of skills and experiences.’

Palmer pledged to ‘do what I can to put our differences behind us and unite Republicans behind a clear path forward.’

Others

Four House Republicans who have mostly kept out of the spotlight in this Congress are also jumping into the race — Reps. Jack Bergman, R-Mich.; Austin Scott, R-Ga.; Pete Sessions, R-Texas; and Dan Meuser, R-Pa.

Bergman has emphasized his service as a Marine Corps general and is already heading into the race with endorsements from four Michigan House Republicans.

Sessions handed out flyers to members Monday morning pointing to his past leadership experience, including running the Rules Committee and the NRCC, and pointing out that the Republican Conference saw a 63-seat gain under his watch.

Meuser pitched giving rank-and-file members a seat at the navigating table in his letter to colleagues, calling for a steering committee consisting of 10% of the GOP Conference ‘to discuss legislation and set priorities.’

Scott comes into the race having previously challenged Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, in the last closed-door speaker election, scoring a surprising 81 votes despite jumping into the race at the last minute.

White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Monday that the U.S. is asking Israel ‘tough questions that any military ought to be asking’ ahead of a possible ground incursion into the Gaza Strip. 

Kirby also said the Israel Defense Forces ‘need to decide for themselves how they’re going to conduct operations’ in the coming days of the war, which began on Oct. 7 and has left a reported total of more than 5,000 people dead so far on both sides. 

‘I can tell you we have, since the beginning of the conflict in the early hours, maintained a level of communication with our Israeli counterparts to ascertain their intentions, their strategy, their aims to see what their answers are to the kinds of tough questions that any military ought to be asking before you launch any kind of a major operation,’ Kirby told reporters gathered at the White House. ‘Have you thought through the branches, have you thought through the sequence? Have you thought through the unintended consequences? And so we are in active conversation with them about that.’ 

When asked if the U.S. believes Israel should launch a ground incursion into the Gaza Strip whenever its military is ready, Kirby said that is up to Israel to decide. 

LIVE UPDATES: ISRAEL AT WAR WITH HAMAS 

‘We’re not in the business of dictating terms to them, and we’re certainly not going to be in the business here from the White House of previewing any future operations one way or the other,’ he said. ‘That would be inappropriate.’ 

Kirby said President Biden has been in contact with Judith and Natalie Raanan, the two American nationals who were freed Friday after being taken captive by Hamas.   

IRAN-BACKED MILITIAS IN IRAQ CLAIM RESPONSIBILITY FOR ATTACK ON US MILITARY BASE IN SYRIA 

‘The president had a chance to speak with them and with their families as he told other families – they met in Tel Aviv, family members of others who have been taken hostage – we have no higher priority than the safety of Americans that are being held around the world,’ Kirby said.  

Kirby also told Fox News White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich that ‘we are going to need congressional support to continue to support Israel and that ‘we’ve got enough appropriations available to us for a while longer.’ 

When asked by her about concerns of humanitarian aid ending up in the hands of Hamas, Kirby said the White House has seen ‘no indications’ that any of the trucks of aid that have so far crossed into the Gaza Strip ‘have been diverted to Hamas or been absconded by Hamas.’ 

FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., is demanding the U.S. State Department rescind its requirement that employees use preferred pronouns and honorifics in the workplace. 

In August, the department rolled out new guidelines titled, ‘Updated Department Guidance Regarding Transgender Employees in the Workplace’ and mandates that all employees and applicants should be addressed ‘by the name, pronouns, and honorific (Mr., Mrs., Ms., Miss, Mx., etc.) that they themselves use in everyday interactions, and as they choose to communicate to their supervisor/manager and colleagues.’

‘Continued intentional use of an incorrect name, pronoun, and/or honorific – also known as misgendering – could, depending on its severity and pervasiveness, contribute to a hostile work environment allegation, and constitute misconduct subject to disciplinary action, up to and including separation or removal,’ the guideline states.

In the letter, Budd contended that Congress ‘never authorized’ the department to ‘impose such restrictions on employee speech’ and that several senators with religious convictions have voiced their concerns ‘stating that they cannot comply with this Guidance without violating their religious beliefs.’

‘But even if Congress did so, this Guidance would be arguably unconstitutional. Specifically, this Guidance infringes upon the First Amendment rights of State Department employees, as recognized by the Supreme Court, to speak openly on matters of public concern and to be free from government compelled speech, including government-compelled affirmation of contested political, social, and religious ideas,’ Budd wrote Friday.

By Nov. 3, Budd wants State Department Secretary Antony Blinken to provide answers on the legal authority behind the guidance, potential exceptions based on religious or non-religious grounds, the process for employees to request exceptions, efforts made to inform employees about this process, and measures to prevent retaliation or mistreatment. 

Budd asked the department to justify — if there are no exceptions whether religious or non-religious — how this guidance aligns with the First Amendment. And he is seeking detailed information on the disciplinary process for alleged violations and the standards used to determine the seriousness of violations.

 ‘As Secretary Blinken has said, ‘When religious liberty is at risk,’ then ‘other freedoms are jeopardized as well.’ By threatening State Department employees with termination simply because they seek to live according to their beliefs, this guidance jeopardizes the freedom of religion and the freedom of speech – including the freedom not to speak – of all State Department employees,’ Budd told Fox News Digital in a statement. ‘I call on Secretary Blinken to publicly and immediately rescind this guidance so that State Department employees can do their vital work in this time of crisis without being in fear of losing their job.’ 

The letter is cosigned by Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Thom Tillis, R-N.C., Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Mike Lee, R-Utah, Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., Tom Cotton, R-Ark., James Lankford, R-Okla., Josh Hawley, R-Mo., JD Vance, R-Ohio and Roger Marshall, R-Kan.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the State Department for comment. 

FIRST ON FOX: Republican Congressman Burgess Owens has introduced a resolution condemning the support Hamas has received on college campuses nationwide following its attack on Israel that left over 1,400 citizens dead.

The resolution, supported by dozens of Republican members of Congress, ‘condemns the support of Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist organizations at institutions of higher education, which may lead to the creation of a hostile environment for Jewish students, faculty, and staff; and urges the Secretary of Education to direct the Office for Civil Rights to investigate and, where appropriate, take action immediately.’

‘I never thought I’d see American students celebrate a terrorist organization dedicated to the destruction of Israel and the Jewish people,’ the Utah Republican who chairs the Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee, said in a press release.

‘Elite institutions have failed their students and alumni by offering inadequate statements of condemnation. This has exposed the deep rot of antisemitism in our higher education system, from statements placing blame solely on Israel for the atrocities of Hamas to demonstrations glorifying mass murder, rape, torture, and kidnapping. It is not nuanced or difficult to stand against terror.’

The resolution was also signed by Reps. Jim Banks, R-Ind., Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., Bob Good, R-Va., James Comer, R-Ky., Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., Kat Cammack, R-Fla., Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., and several others.

‘Condemning terrorism should not be a controversial position to take,’ Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., who also signed the resolution, said in the press release.

‘Hamas slaughtered innocent men, women, and children because they were Jewish. It’s appalling that some higher education faculty and students have the gall to defend these despicable actions. I thank Congressman Owens for introducing this resolution to condemn the support of terrorist organizations at colleges and universities that places the safety of Jewish students, faculty, and staff at risk.’ 

Following the Hamas attack on Israel earlier this month that killed over 1,400 Israelis, protests condemning Israel have erupted on college campuses across the country, including at Harvard University, where calls have intensified for the school’s president to step down over her response to the protests.

‘Sadly, there are few places on earth with more vicious antisemitism and hatred of Israel than American ‘elite’ universities,’ Texas Sen. Ted Cruz told Fox News Digital in a statement following a letter he sent to Harvard, his alma mater, calling on the school to denounce the protests. 

‘It’s disgusting, and it’s dangerous. I’m particularly ashamed that student groups from my alma mater, Harvard, blamed Israel for the genocidal war that Hamas terrorists are brutally waging.’ 

The Department of Education did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.