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    Hegseth Confirms Leader Behind Trump Assassination Effort Has Been ‘Hunted Down and Killed’

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0
    By Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America - Pete Hegseth, CC BY-SA 2.0

    Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that the Iranian leader behind multiple assassination attempts against President Donald Trump was killed during U.S. strikes on Iran over the weekend as part of Operation Epic Fury.

    “The leader of the unit that attempted to assassinate Trump has been hunted down and killed,” Hegseth said during a press conference Wednesday morning.

    “Iran tried to kill President Trump and President Trump got the last laugh,” Hegseth continued. “Now, this is not a ‘mission accomplished’ situation. This is simply a reality check.”

    U.S. officials confirmed earlier this week that strikes against Iran, which began Saturday, killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior figures in the regime’s leadership.

    The military campaign comes amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran following repeated threats from Iran against Trump after the 2020 U.S. strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani.

    In 2024, Iran-linked actors attempted to arrange an assassination plot targeting Trump. The U.S. government has also previously warned of other Iranian efforts to target the former president.

    In 2022, an Iranian video depicted an assassination attempt on Trump while he played golf.

    Trump referenced those threats during a phone call with ABC News’ Jonathan Karl earlier this week following reports of Khamenei’s death.

    “I got him before he got me,” Trump said.

    “They tried twice,” Trump continued, referring to Iran’s previous attempts on his life. “Well, I got him first.”

    During Wednesday’s press conference, Hegseth said the combined power of U.S. and Israeli intelligence and military forces is rapidly weakening Iran’s ability to respond.

    “America is winning decisively, devastatingly and without mercy,” Hegseth said.

    He also emphasized that the current military campaign was never intended to be evenly matched.

    “This was never meant to be a fair fight and it is not a fair fight. We are punching them while they’re down, which is exactly how it should be,” he said.

    Iran has launched retaliatory attacks in response to the strikes. A drone strike in Kuwait earlier this week killed at least six Americans, according to U.S. officials. Hegseth vowed those casualties would be avenged.

    He said:

    “As President Trump said, more and larger waves are coming. We are just getting started. We are accelerating, not decelerating. Iran’s capabilities are evaporating by the hour, while American strength grows fiercer, smarter and utterly dominant. More bombers and more fighters are arriving just today. And now, with complete control of the skies, we will be using 500-pound, 1,000-pound and 2,000 pound GPS and laser-guided precision gravity bombs, of which we have a nearly unlimited stockpile. We used more exquisite standoff munitions at the start, but no longer need to. Our stockpiles of those, as well as patriots, remains extremely strong.”

    Hegseth added that the United States has the capacity to sustain the conflict if necessary.

    He warned the U.S. can “sustain this fight easily for as along as we need to.”

    The defense secretary compared Iran’s situation to a football team that had prepared only the opening portion of a game.

    “I liken Iran’s predicament to a football team who scripted the first 20 plays of a game,” he said. “The team knew what plays to run because their first few drives were scripted. But now that the game has started and the blitz is on, they don’t know what plays call, let alone how to get in the huddle and call those plays.”

    Hegseth concluded by saying the strikes represent Trump getting the “last laugh” against Iran.

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    Trump Warns Massive Armada Has Been Sent To Iran

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    2
    Competitors in the 2024 Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition run a 1-kilometer route as part of the competition’s biathlon event at Ethan Allen Firing Range, Vermont, Aug. 6, 2024. The Best Warrior Competition is a physically and mentally challenging five-day event that tests Soldiers on a variety of tactical and technical skills. Winners are named the Army Guard Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year and move on to compete in the Department of the Army Best Squad Competition, with other Soldiers from the Best Warrior Competition filling out the ranks of their squad. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy)

    Former President Donald Trump confirmed Thursday that the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and its accompanying strike group are being deployed to the Middle East as a direct signal to the Iranian regime, saying the United States is prepared to take decisive action if Tehran does not negotiate.

    In a series of posts on his Truth Social platform, Trump described a “massive Armada” heading toward Iran and warned that time is running out for the Islamic Republic to return to the negotiating table on terms that would bar it from obtaining nuclear weapons. “It is moving quickly, with great power, enthusiasm, and purpose. It is a larger fleet, headed by the great Aircraft Carrier Abraham Lincoln, than that sent to Venezuela,” Trump wrote. “Like with Venezuela, it is ready, willing, and able to rapidly fulfill its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary.”

    “Hopefully Iran will quickly ‘Come to the Table’ and negotiate a fair and equitable deal — NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS — one that is good for all parties,” Trump added. “Time is running out, it is truly of the essence! As I told Iran once before, MAKE A DEAL! They didn’t, and there was ‘Operation Midnight Hammer,’ a major destruction of Iran. The next attack will be far worse! Don’t make that happen again.”

    The Navy’s deployment — which includes the Abraham Lincoln and supporting warships — is part of an expanding U.S. military presence in the region intended to deter Iranian aggression and signal Washington’s readiness to act if necessary. According to U.S. military statements, the carrier strike group has entered the Middle East under U.S. Central Command and is positioned to promote regional security and stability amid heightened tensions.

    Trump has also insisted that there is willingness on the Iranian side to discuss a deal. In a Monday interview with Axios, he said Tehran had reached out “on numerous occasions” and “want[s] to make a deal.” “They want to make a deal. I know so. They called on numerous occasions. They want to talk,” he told the outlet.

    But U.S. officials cited by Axios said that any agreement would require Iran to remove all enriched uranium, cap its long-range missile stockpile, curb support for proxy forces, and cease independent uranium enrichment — conditions Iranian leaders have not accepted.

    Iran’s mission to the United Nations responded to Trump’s posts within hours, warning that Tehran would defend itself if attacked. “Last time the U.S. blundered into wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, it squandered over $7 trillion and lost more than 7,000 American lives. Iran stands ready for dialogue based on mutual respect and interests — BUT IF PUSHED, IT WILL DEFEND ITSELF AND RESPOND LIKE NEVER BEFORE!” the statement read.

    The military buildup comes amid widespread unrest inside Iran following protests that began in late December. Activist groups have reported thousands of deaths in the crackdown, and recent coverage says Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been sheltering in a fortified underground facility as tensions escalate.

    Trump is expected to hold further consultations in coming days, and White House officials continue to say that military action remains on the table if diplomacy fails to produce results acceptable to U.S. interests.

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    Trump Confirms The US Used New Sonic Weapon

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1
    The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    President Donald Trump confirmed in a NewsNation interview this week that the U.S. used a previously undisclosed weapon during the mission that captured Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro earlier this month.

    During a conversation with NewsNation host Katie Pavlich, Trump was asked about reports claiming a “sonic weapon” was deployed in Venezuela—one that allegedly disabled Maduro’s Cuban bodyguards and left them unable to fight back.

    Trump didn’t offer technical details, but he strongly implied the reports were accurate.

    “Yeah, something I don’t wanna— Nobody else has it,” Trump said, suggesting the U.S. possesses capabilities that America’s enemies simply can’t match.

    Trump added that the U.S. military has “weapons that nobody knows about,” saying it’s better not to discuss them publicly—but praising the operation as a total success.

    “That was an amazing attack,” Trump said. “Don’t forget, that house was in the middle of a fort, an army base, a big one, a lot of soldiers, and they came in and they did their job. We lost nobody.”

    Leavitt amplified viral claims of a “sound wave” weapon

    The conversation follows a viral post shared on X by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on January 10. Leavitt reposted a dramatic account from influencer Mike Netter, writing, “Stop what you are doing and read this…”

    Netter’s post claimed to feature an exchange between a Venezuelan security guard loyal to Maduro and an interviewer. In the account, the guard described U.S. forces as overwhelmingly precise and unstoppable, even while badly outnumbered.

    The guard alleged the Americans used such advanced firepower that it seemed “each soldier was firing 300 rounds per minute,” and claimed the attack wasn’t just about guns.

    According to the account, the turning point came when U.S. troops launched something the guard described as “a very intense sound wave.” He claimed it caused instant physical effects—including nosebleeds, disorientation, and even vomiting blood—leaving Maduro’s men collapsed and defenseless.

    The guard also claimed the raid ended with roughly twenty U.S. soldiers defeating hundreds of defenders without a single American casualty.

    Legacy media largely ignores the story

    Despite Trump’s comments and the attention Leavitt’s post received online, the story has seen limited coverage from major U.S. outlets.

    However, several British tabloids—including The Independent and Daily Mail—reported on Trump’s remarks, with the Mail running the headline: “Trump reveals details of secret ‘sonic weapon’ used in Venezuela raid: ‘Nobody else has it.’”

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    Report: US Military Seizes Two Sanctioned Tankers In Atlantic Ocean

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    4

    Just in…

    On Wednesday, U.S. forces seized two sanctioned tankers in the Atlantic Ocean.

    First, U.S. European Command (EUCOM) announced the seizure of the Russian-flagged Marinera oil tanker in the North Atlantic Sea.

    “The @TheJusticeDept & @DHSgov, in coordination with the @DeptofWar today announced the seizure of the M/V Bella 1 for violations of U.S. sanctions,” read a post from EUCOM on X. “The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court after being tracked by USCGC Munro.”

    “This seizure supports @POTUS Proclamation targeting sanctioned vessels that threaten the security and stability of the Western Hemisphere,” EUCOM added. “The operation was executed by DHS components with support from  @DeptofWar, showcasing a whole-of-government approach to protect the homeland.”

    Fox News previously reported that U.S. forces were attempting to board the Marinera tanker, which previously operated under the name Bella 1, in the North Atlantic earlier Wednesday morning.

    Fox News reports:

    The development comes after the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that Russia had sent a submarine and other naval assets to escort the tanker.

    The vessel had spent more than two weeks attempting to slip past U.S. enforcement efforts targeting sanctioned oil shipments near Venezuela, the outlet reported.

    “The blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in FULL EFFECT — anywhere in the world,” said Secretary of War Pete Hegseth after the tanker was seized.

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    USA Strikes ‘Big Facility’ In Campaign Against Venezuela

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0
    President Donald Trump holds a Cabinet meeting, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in the Cabinet Room. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)

    President Donald Trump suggested this week that U.S. forces may have carried out a direct strike on a major drug-related facility inside Venezuela, a development that—if confirmed—would represent a significant escalation in his administration’s campaign against narco-trafficking and the Maduro regime.

    In an interview Friday with radio host John Catsimatidis on The Cats & Cosby Show, the president discussed ongoing U.S. military operations targeting suspected drug-smuggling vessels operating off the Venezuelan coast. During that conversation, Trump appeared to reference a successful strike on a fixed facility connected to those operations.

    “They have a big plant or a big facility where the ships come from,” the president said. “Two nights ago, we knocked that out.”

    While Trump did not publicly identify the location of the facility, U.S. officials later told The New York Times that the president was referring to a drug facility located inside Venezuela that had been destroyed. At this time, the president’s comments remain the only public indication such a strike occurred. Neither the Venezuelan government nor other Latin American governments have acknowledged or confirmed an attack of this kind.

    If U.S. forces did strike a facility on Venezuelan soil, it would mark the first known land-based military action in Trump’s broader effort to disrupt drug trafficking networks tied to the regime of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro. That effort has intensified since September, when the administration began authorizing military strikes on vessels believed to be transporting narcotics in international waters near Venezuela.

    According to public reporting, more than 100 people have been killed since those maritime strikes began. The administration has defended the operations as necessary to combat transnational criminal organizations that U.S. officials say operate with the protection—or direct involvement—of the Maduro government. The Trump administration has repeatedly labeled Venezuela a “narco-state,” accusing senior regime figures of facilitating cocaine trafficking into the United States.

    In October, The New York Times reported that the president had “secretly authorized the C.I.A. to conduct covert action in Venezuela,” a claim Trump later confirmed publicly. The authorization reportedly expanded U.S. intelligence and operational capabilities aimed at undermining drug cartels and weakening Maduro’s grip on power.

    Beyond military operations, the administration has steadily increased pressure on Caracas through economic and strategic measures. Trump ordered the shutdown of Venezuelan airspace, citing security concerns, and earlier this month the U.S. began seizing oil tankers near Venezuelan shores as part of what officials describe as an enforcement action against illicit oil shipments funding the regime. Supporters of the policy argue these moves are designed to cut off revenue streams used to prop up corruption and criminal networks.

    The president has previously made clear that land-based options were under consideration.

    “What’s the next step in this war on cartels, and are you considering options? Are you considering strikes on land?” an off-camera reporter asked Trump in the Oval Office in October.

    “Well, I don’t want to tell you exactly, but we are certainly looking at land now because we’ve got the sea very well under control,” Trump replied.

    That comment, combined with Trump’s remarks during Friday’s radio interview, has fueled speculation that the administration may already be acting on those plans.

    Despite the president’s statements, military officials told The New York Times they had no information to share regarding the reported destruction of a “big facility.” Both the CIA and the White House declined to comment, a response consistent with the administration’s approach to sensitive national security operations.

    Supporters of the president argue that Trump’s aggressive posture reflects a long-overdue willingness to confront drug cartels and hostile regimes head-on, rather than relying solely on diplomatic pressure. Critics, meanwhile, warn that direct military action inside Venezuela could escalate tensions in the region.

    For now, the administration has offered no further details—but Trump’s remarks make clear that his campaign against drug trafficking and the Maduro regime is far from over.

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    ‘Golden Fleet’: Trump Announces New Class Of Navy Battleships

    By
    Patrick Houck
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    3

    WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Monday announced plans for a new class of U.S. Navy warships, reviving the battleship concept roughly 85 years after it was eclipsed by the aircraft carrier as the world’s dominant naval platform.

    The proposal is part of a broader shipbuilding initiative Trump has branded the “Golden Fleet.”

    Trump made the announcement from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, flanked by senior national security officials, including War Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Navy Secretary John Phelan.

    A New Naval Push

    Under the proposal, the Navy would begin construction on two so-called “Trump-class” battleships, with the potential to expand the fleet to as many as 20 to 25 ships over time.

    “These will be the largest battleships in the history of our country — the largest in the history of the world,” Trump said, arguing that the United States needs a stronger and more visible naval presence to deter adversaries.

    Trump described the ships as larger, faster, and more powerful than any previous U.S. warship, though few technical details were released during the announcement.

    What These Ships Would Likely Be

    The idea of building new battleships — a vessel type largely phased out after World War II — immediately raised questions within defense circles.

    Traditional battleships, such as the Iowa-class, were centered on heavy guns and thick armor. They fell out of favor as aircraft carriers, submarines, and missile-equipped surface combatants proved more effective in modern warfare.

    Retired naval officers familiar with early discussions say the proposed vessels would likely resemble oversized surface combatants rather than classic battleships. Instead of large-caliber guns, they would predominantly feature advanced missile systems, air defense capabilities, and modern sensors.

    The Hill continues:

    The new vessels will mark an upgrade to the Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. 

    The first ship in the so-called Trump-class will be the USS Defiant, which will carry the nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile, according to Phelan. 

    The Navy secretary said the Defiant will be the “largest, deadliest and most versatile and best looking warship anywhere on the world’s oceans.” 

    As outlined by Navy officials, the Golden Fleet concept could also include up to 50 support and auxiliary ships to sustain the larger force.

    Trump said one of the proposed new warships could be completed in about 2.5 years.

    Cost and Capacity Concerns

    Defense analysts caution that building a new class of large U.S. Navy warships would present significant industrial and budgetary challenges.

    Preliminary estimates suggest the vessels could displace between 15,000 and 20,000 tons and cost billions of dollars per ship. Meeting those requirements would likely force U.S. shipyards to expand facilities and hire additional workers capable of handling construction at that scale.

    Shipbuilding capacity is already under strain from ongoing submarine and aircraft carrier programs, raising concerns that adding another major initiative could lead to delays or cost overruns.

    The U.S. Navy has not built a battleship since the 1940s and decommissioned its last battleship in 1992. Critics note that many of the missions once assigned to battleships are now fulfilled by other platforms without the need to construct massive surface combatants.

    Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers and cruisers, for example, perform air defense, anti-submarine warfare, and land-attack missions using Tomahawk cruise missiles. These ships feature modern designs that proponents argue offer greater survivability than a large, highly visible battleship.

    Aircraft carriers remain the Navy’s primary power-projection assets, capable of launching aircraft to strike targets hundreds of miles inland, a reach that far exceeds the range of naval guns — including railguns.

    Analysts also point to advances in precision-guided missile technology, which allow a variety of platforms to deliver long-range firepower without the risks associated with deploying a single, large vessel.

    Strategic Backdrop

    The announcement comes as the U.S. military adjusts its global posture amid rising tensions with Venezuela and other regions, and as China continues to expand its navy at a rapid pace.

    Critics argue that resources would be better spent on carrier strike groups, submarines, and dispersed missile platforms rather than reviving the battleship concept. Supporters counter that a larger and more formidable surface fleet could strengthen deterrence and signal U.S. resolve.

    For now, key questions about design, cost, and strategy are still unresolved.

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    Trump Orders Defense Secretary to Ensure Troops Get Paid Despite Democrat Shutdown

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    4
    Daniel Ramirez from Honolulu, USA, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

    President Donald Trump is stepping up to protect America’s servicemembers amid the ongoing government shutdown — directing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to use all available Department of Defense funds to make sure troops receive their paychecks on time.

    In a decisive move shared Saturday on Truth Social, Trump invoked his authority as Commander in Chief, announcing that servicemembers will be paid on October 15, regardless of congressional gridlock.

    “That is why I am using my authority, as Commander in Chief, to direct our Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to use all available funds to get our Troops PAID on October 15th,” Trump wrote.
    “We have identified funds to do this, and Secretary Hegseth will use them to PAY OUR TROOPS.”

    The Office of Management and Budget confirmed that the funds would come from research and development money within the DOD — funding that remains available for two years and can be redirected in this emergency.

    Trump’s order comes as Democrats in the Senate, led by Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), refuse to act on legislation that would keep pay flowing to the military. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) reminded Americans that the House has already passed a bill — H.R. 5371 — to ensure military pay continues during the shutdown.

    “No one in the military or any military family should have their pay blocked on October 15!” Johnson said on X. “Since the bill ALREADY PASSED THE HOUSE, a simple yes vote by five more Democrats on Tuesday would allow the military to be paid on Wednesday.”

    While Democrats point fingers, President Trump and Republican leaders are taking concrete action to protect the men and women in uniform who defend the nation.

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    Trump Secures Landmark Deal Between Israel And Hamas

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    2
    President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands during their joint press conference, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Leslie N. Emory)

    The Trump administration is being praised for its efforts in securing a landmark peace deal between Israel and Hamas that will see all remaining hostages brought home on Monday.

    Under the first phase of the agreement, Israel will release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for all remaining hostages, both living and dead. Israel will also withdraw its troops from most of Gaza, removing themselves behind a “yellow line” during a 24-hour ceasefire that has already begun.

    At the end of the ceasefire, a 72-hour clock will begin, during which Hamas must release all remaining hostages. Only 20 remaining hostages are believed to be alive, along with the 28 who are deceased and their bodies “scattered across Gaza” according to negotiators.

    Fox News noted it remains unclear if Hamas will be able to adhere to this timeframe after it flagged over the weekend the improbability that it will be able to quickly locate all deceased bodies, some of which are allegedly buried under rubble.

    Jerusalem will also authorize the release of some 1,700 Gazans arrested after the October 2023 attacks, along with roughly 250 Palestinians serving life sentences, under the first phase of the plan presented by President Donald Trump late last month.

    President Donald Trump announced the deal on Wednesday night, hailing assistance from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey.

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Shosh Bedrosian said this is only the first phase of the peace agreement. Details of later phases have not been announced.

    Secretary of State Marco Rubio handed President Donald Trump a note on Wednesday telling him that a Middle East peace deal was “very close” and was awaiting Trump’s approval for “a Truth Social post.”

    As Trump spoke to reporters, Rubio walked up to the president, whispered in his ear, and handed him a note

    “Very close. We need you to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce deal first,” the note read.

    Watch the moment:

    After being handed the note, Trump told reporters, “I was just given a note by the Secretary of State saying that we’re very close to a deal in the Middle East and they’re gonna need me pretty quickly.”

    Just over an hour later, Trump published a Truth Social post announcing “that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan.”

    “This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace. All Parties will be treated fairly!” he wrote. “This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!”

    Earlier on Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that Trump was “considering going to the Middle East shortly” after his routine, annual medical checkup at Walter Reed Medical Center.

    “I may go there sometime toward the end of the week, maybe on Sunday, actually, and we’ll see,” Trump told reporters. “But there’s a very good chance. Negotiations are going along very well. We’re dealing with Hamas and many of the countries. As you know, we have a Muslim, all of the Muslim countries are included. All of the Arab countries are included. Very rich countries and some that are not so rich, but just about everybody is included.”

    Families of Israeli hostages erupted in cheers after President Donald Trump called to tell them their loved ones would return home in days after what he described as a “historic peace deal” between Israel and Hamas.

    In a video released by the Hostage and Missing Families Forum, the president spoke to relatives by phone late Wednesday, promising all captives would be back by Monday.

    The clip shows Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick on a call with Trump and standing with hostage families before they chant: “Thank you!”

    “This is amazing,” one said. Another added, “Mr. President, we believe in you, we know you’ve done so much for us in the past, since you became president, even before that. And we trust you’ll fulfill the mission until every hostage, until all 48 of the hostages are home. Thank you so much. Blessed be the peacemakers!”

    Watch:

    Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar offered new details on Israel’s peace agreement with Hamas in an interview with Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin on Thursday.

    Griffin pressed Sa’ar about Hamas’ role in Gaza moving forward as well as Israel’s plans for a military withdrawal.

    Sa’ar said Israel is already moving to withdraw its troops behind the “yellow line,” ceding 53% of Gaza’s territory amid Thursday’s ceasefire. He said further withdrawals will be negotiated in later phases of the peace agreement.

    He went on to say that, in the meantime, Gaza will be governed by a council of local Palestinians along with input from President Donald Trump. He said the existing Palestinian Authority may also play a role, but only if it adopts certain reforms.

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for Trump to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in the peace deal.

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    Trump Mulls Renaming Department Of Defense

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    2

    Big things are happening…

    On Monday, President Trump announced he plans to restore the Department of Defense to its original title: The Department of War.

    The president said at the White House that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth “has been incredible with the, as I call it, the Department of War.”

    “You know we call it the Department of Defense, but between us, I think we’re going to change the name. You want to know the truth? I think we’re going to have some information on that, maybe soon,” Trump added. 

    “But I think because, you know, Department of Defense, we won the World War One, World War Two. It was called the Department of War. And to me that’s really what it is. Defense is a part of that. But I have a feeling we’re going to be changing,” Trump continued. “I’m talking to the people. Everybody likes that. We had an unbelievable history of victory when it was Department of War. Then we changed it to Department of Defense. 

    Later on, NewsNation reporter Kellie Meyer asked, “And on the Department of War, how do you plan to do that? It requires an act of Congress to rename the Defense Department–”

    Trump then said, “It’s something that I think you’re going to be hearing about or seeing about over the next couple of weeks,” and “probably that change is going to be made over the next week or so.” 

    When asked about the name change at another White House event Monday, Trump told a reporter “We’re just going to do it.”

    “I’m sure Congress will go along if we need that. I don’t think we even need that. But, if we need that, I’m sure Congress will go along,” Trump also said. You know, that was the name when we won World War One. We won World War Two. We won everything. And, just to me, seems like just a much more appropriate. The other is, defense is too defensive. And we want to be defensive, but we want to be offensive too, if we have to be. So it just sounded to me like a better name.” 

    The Department of Defense says on its website that the Department of War was established by Congress in August 1789 “at the cabinet level to oversee the operation and maintenance of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps.” 

    Following the conclusion of World War II, in July 1947, President Harry Truman signed the National Security Act which, the site says, merged “the Navy and War Departments and the newly independent Air Force into a single organization called the National Military Establishment led by a civilian secretary of defense who also oversees the Joint Chiefs of Staff.”

    Two years later in August 1949, the National Security Act was amended, renaming the National Military Establishment as the Department of Defense.

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    US Takes 10% Stake In Intel Under Trump To Strengthen Chip Production

    By
    Patrick Houck
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    1
    Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    A public-private deal aims to bring microchip manufacturing back to American soil — and deliver taxpayer returns in the process.

    A Strategic Bet on Semiconductors

    President Donald Trump announced Friday that chipmaker Intel agreed to give the U.S. government a 9.9% equity stake, valued at $8.9 billion. The move, the first of its kind under the CHIPS and Science Act, is intended to strengthen domestic semiconductor capacity and ensure that federal subsidies come with direct returns for taxpayers.

    “They’ve agreed to do it, and I think it’s a great deal for them,” Trump told reporters during a briefing. The agreement follows internal administration discussions about using existing Commerce Department funding to acquire a stake in Intel, an effort confirmed earlier in the week by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

    The stake is expected to be funded through the CHIPS Act and the Department of Defense’s Secure Enclave program. It will be a passive investment, meaning the government will not receive board seats, governance rights, or special access to information.

    Intel Under Scrutiny

    Trump also shed light on how the agreement came about — including a conversation with Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan, whose background had drawn criticism from Capitol Hill.

    Earlier this month, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) raised alarms over Tan’s past leadership of Cadence Design Systems, which in 2008 pleaded guilty to illegally exporting chip design software to a Chinese military university. Tan’s investments in China-based firms had also raised national security concerns.

    “I said, ‘Well that’s right, he should resign,’” Trump said. “And he came in, he saw me, we talked for a while. I liked him a lot. I thought he was very good. I thought he was somewhat a victim, but, you know, nobody’s a total victim, I guess.”

    Following their meeting, Trump floated the idea that Intel should offer a 10% equity share to the U.S. government.

    “He said, ‘I would consider that,’” Trump recalled. “Intel has been left behind, as you know, compared to [Nvidia CEO] Jensen [Huang] and some of our friends.”

    Commerce: “We Can’t Rely on Taiwan”

    Commerce Secretary Lutnick emphasized that the deal has more to do with national security than boardroom politics. In an interview on CNBC’s Squawk Box, Lutnick pointed out that Taiwan, which manufactures over 90% of the world’s most advanced semiconductors, sits just 80 miles from China.

    “We cannot rely on Taiwan, which is 9,500 miles away from us and only 80 miles from China,” Lutnick said. “So, you can’t have 99 percent of leading-edge chips made in Taiwan. We want to make them here.”

    He noted that the administration wants to ensure that U.S. companies are capable of producing next-generation chip nodes domestically.

    “One of those pieces is, it would be lovely to have Intel be capable of making a U.S. node or a U.S. transistor — driving that in America,” Lutnick added.

    A Rare Bipartisan Signal

    The move drew support across ideological lines, with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) praising the basic premise: that if the federal government is handing out billions in subsidies, the public should see a share of the profits.

    “No. Taxpayers should not be providing billions of dollars in corporate welfare to large, profitable corporations like Intel without getting anything in return,” Sanders said. “If microchip companies make a profit from the generous grants they receive from the federal government, the taxpayers of America have a right to a reasonable return on that investment.”

    Not Everyone on Board

    Some conservatives pushed back against the concept of government equity stakes in private corporations.

    Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) called the proposal a “terrible” precedent.

    “If socialism is government owning the means of production, wouldn’t the government owning part of Intel be a step toward socialism?” Paul wrote in a post on X.

    Despite the criticism, the administration has defended the agreement as a narrowly targeted investment — not a takeover — intended to align taxpayer contributions with long-term national and economic security.

    Looking Ahead

    The Intel stake marks a sharp departure from traditional federal industrial policy. Rather than simply issuing grants or tax breaks, the administration is pursuing a more transactional model: public money in, public equity out.

    For the Trump administration, the goal is clear — to use government leverage to secure America’s position in next-generation chip manufacturing and reduce dependence on overseas supply chains.

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