A routine press gaggle at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday morning quickly escalated when President Donald Trump used a question from Fox News senior White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich to publicly admonish her fiancé, Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), a sitting Republican congressman. Heinrich had attempted to inquire whether President Trump had contacted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a question the President did not answer.
"Her husband votes against me all the time. Can you imagine? I don’t know what’s with him. You better ask what’s with him. She’s married to a certain congressman. He likes voting against Trump. You know what happens with that? It doesn’t work out well." — President Donald Trump
Instead of addressing the query, President Trump shifted his focus to Fitzpatrick, expressing dissatisfaction with the congressman's voting record. "Her husband votes against me all the time. Can you imagine? I don’t know what’s with him. You better ask what’s with him," President Trump stated to the assembled reporters. He continued, "She’s married to a certain congressman. He likes voting against Trump. You know what happens with that? It doesn’t work out well." A spokesperson for Fox News later confirmed that Heinrich and Fitzpatrick are engaged, not married, as President Trump had stated.
Representative Fitzpatrick, 52, is an attorney and former FBI special agent who has represented Pennsylvania’s 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives since January 2017. His district voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, and his political stance is often described as centrist. This positioning has led to several instances of disagreement with the White House on legislative matters. Notably, Fitzpatrick voted against President Trump’s "One Big Beautiful Bill" and rejected a White House security funding request that included nearly $220 million for a ballroom renovation project.
Hours after President Trump's public remarks, Fitzpatrick responded by targeting a controversial new Department of Justice (DOJ) fund, which has drawn criticism from members of both parties. The fund, named the "Anti-Weaponization Fund," totals $1.776 billion and was established through a settlement President Trump reached with the IRS to resolve his $10 billion lawsuit against the agency. According to a DOJ press release, the fund aims to "provide a systematic process to hear and redress claims of others who suffered weaponization and lawfare," with the authority to issue formal apologies and monetary relief.
"Bad news. We’re going to try and kill it," Fitzpatrick declared on Wednesday to Scott MacFarlane, chief Washington correspondent for MeidasTouch. He added, "We’re considering legislative options. We’re going to write a letter to the AG to start, but we’re considering a legislative option. We’re trying to unpack what exactly the legal machinations are but — he can’t do that." Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD) plans to introduce legislation, supported by Fitzpatrick, explicitly stating that "no Federal funds may be used to create or make payments to fund" the Anti-Weaponization Fund.
Fitzpatrick also expressed strong disapproval of a provision within the DOJ settlement that declares the IRS is "FOREVER BARRED and PRECLUDED" from prosecuting or pursuing all claims and examinations involving President Trump, affiliated individuals, and related trusts and businesses. When asked if his legislative efforts would target this specific provision, Fitzpatrick affirmed, "Of course, yeah, you can’t do that." He was the first Republican to publicly reject the fund and vow to prevent its implementation, while other Republicans reportedly sought more information on the matter behind the scenes.
President Trump's public criticism of Fitzpatrick aligns with a pattern of his administration's support for primary challenges against Republican members of Congress who have defied his agenda. Recent examples include successful primary challenges backed by President Trump against Republican foes in Kentucky and Georgia, as well as a win against Representative Thomas Massie in Kentucky’s primary and Senator Bill Cassidy in Louisiana.
Jacqui Heinrich, an Emmy award-winning journalist, joined Fox News in 2018 and was promoted to senior White House correspondent in June 2024. She has had previous contentious interactions with President Trump. He once referred to her as "absolutely terrible" on Truth Social, suggesting she "should be working for CNN, not Fox" following her questioning regarding his display of Tesla vehicles at the White House. The latest exchange underscores ongoing tensions between the White House and elements of the press, as well as within the Republican party regarding loyalty and policy alignment.
