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Former Vice President Mike Pence Chimes In On Trump’s Strikes On Iran

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Mike Pence via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Former Vice President Mike Pence is offering strong praise for President Donald Trump’s military strikes on Iran—an endorsement that comes despite the long-standing and highly public rift between the two former running mates.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Pence applauded Trump for what he described as decisive leadership in confronting Iran, while also criticizing a growing isolationist faction within the Republican Party.

“It’s one of the things I give President Trump great credit for,” Pence said this week.

Pence’s comments arrive nearly three weeks into ongoing U.S. military strikes against Iran, part of a broader escalation that has drawn sharp criticism from some populist and anti-war voices aligned with the MAGA and “America First” movements. Those critics argue the operation risks entangling the U.S. in another prolonged conflict overseas.

But Pence, a longtime advocate of a more traditional Republican foreign policy rooted in strong global engagement and deterrence, rejected those concerns. He framed Trump’s actions as a rejection of isolationism within the party.

“Around this administration, and to some extent in this administration, there have been some increasingly loud voices calling for America to pull back from our role as leader of the free world. Isolationist voices have taken hold in some quarters of the Republican Party,” Pence said.

“But fortunately, President Trump turned a deaf ear to those voices last year when he struck Iran, and this year, when he launched Operation Epic Fury,” Pence emphasized. “I think it’s greatly to his credit.”

Pence argued that Trump’s approach aligns with the broader Republican base.

“I think it’s reflective of where the overwhelming majority of Republicans are. Republicans understand that America is the arsenal of democracy, that we’re the leader of the free world, that we have obligations to lead,” he said.

The former vice president also drew on his firsthand experience serving alongside Trump during their time in the White House.

“I’ve told people many times, I’m proud of President Trump for making the decision to launch operation Epic Fury. But I’m not surprised, because the President I served with is no isolationist.”

The praise is notable given the fractured relationship between the two men. Pence and Trump have been estranged since the final days of their administration, particularly following the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Trump publicly pressured Pence to reject the certification of the 2020 election results—something Pence refused to do, citing constitutional limits. The fallout led to years of mutual criticism, with Pence at times condemning Trump’s actions and Trump frequently targeting Pence in speeches and on social media.

Despite that personal and political break, Pence has occasionally continued to support Trump’s policy decisions—especially on national security—reflecting enduring alignment on certain ideological priorities even as their political alliance has dissolved.

The current conflict underscores those stakes. U.S. and Israeli strikes have reportedly killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and severely weakened Iran’s military leadership and infrastructure. In response, Iran has launched retaliatory attacks across the Middle East, targeting Israel and regional neighbors.

The conflict has also had major global economic consequences. Iranian attacks on energy infrastructure and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have halted roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply, sending fuel prices sharply higher in the U.S. and worldwide.

Against that backdrop, Pence doubled down on his support for the administration’s aggressive posture.

“I couldn’t be more proud of President Donald Trump for making the decision to send our troops directly against an enemy that has literally claimed thousands of American lives, including nearly 1,000 service members,” he said.

He added that Trump has “unleashed the armed forces of the United States to take the fight directly to the source of global terrorism. And I think at the end of the day, the American people understand that this is a fight that we have to win, and it’s going to be important that we finish the threat that Iran has posed to the American people, to our cherished ally, Israel, to nations across the region and across the West, once and for all.”

Pence concluded by offering advice he would give Trump if asked:

“To finish the threat that the mullahs and Tehran have posed to the people of this country once and for all.”

Poll: Americans Oppose US Involvement In Iran, Believe US Should Stay Out Of Other Countries’ Business

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A new poll finds overwhelming majorities of Americans oppose the U.S. government’s military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and believe the federal government should stay out of other countries’ disputes.

Reuters/Ipsos reports their new poll finds “most Americans support immediately ending U.S. involvement in the conflict with Iran. The poll also finds that Americans oppose U.S. military involvement in the Middle East unless the U.S. is directly threatened and that most Americans do not feel that U.S. airstrikes against Iran make America safer.”

Only 36 percent of Americans support the strikes, with 45 percent opposing.  

A whopping 69 percent of Americans, including 57 percent of Republicans, oppose “any military action in the Middle East unless America is directly threatened”.

58 percent of Americans say “it is better for the nation if the U.S. stays out of the affairs of other nations”

Republicans generally opposed U.S. strikes on Iran when Democrats Barack Obama and Joe Biden were president, warning it would lead to “World War 3.”  They now report supporting the policy under Republican President Donald Trump.

Reuters summarized the findings, noting:

* Seven in ten say they have been following the U.S. airstrikes against Iran (70%) or the war between Israel and Iran (67%) very or somewhat closely. Republicans are slightly more likely to say they are following the U.S. airstrikes very closely (39%) compared to Democrats (32%), independents (31%), and the general population (33%).

* Four in five Americans say they are concerned with the conflict growing between the U.S. and Iran (84%) and U.S. military personnel stationed in the Middle East (79%). In comparison, similar numbers of Americans are concerned about rising inflation (81%) and growing U.S. debt (78%).

* Republicans (69% support, 17% oppose) are significantly more likely to support the strikes compared to Democrats (13% support, 74% oppose) and independents (29% support, 48% oppose).

* Just over one in three Americans (36%) say they agree that U.S. airstrikes against Iran make America safer, while 60% disagree and 4% refused or skipped. This is heavily divided along partisan lines, with 12% of Democrats, 29% of independents, and 67% of Republicans agreeing with this statement.

* Most Americans say the U.S. should not become involved in any military action in the Middle East unless America is directly threatened (69%). Majorities across partisanship feel this way, with 57% of Republicans, 73% of independents, and 80% of Democrats agreeing with this statement. 

“This Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted June 21-23, 2025. The poll began fielding immediately after the June 21 U.S. strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. The poll closed before the June 23 Iranian strikes on a U.S. military base in Qatar, which has reportedly caused no fatalities,” Reuters notes.

Jack Smith Launches New Law Firm With Trump Prosecution Veterans

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    Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Jack Smith — the former special counsel who led the federal prosecutions of President Donald Trump — is starting a private law firm in January 2026. And he’s bringing reinforcements: former federal prosecutors Tim Heaphy, Thomas Windom, and David Harbach.

    Heaphy previously worked at Willkie Farr & Gallagher and served as the lead investigator for the Jan. 6 committee. Windom and Harbach helped Smith run the Trump election interference and classified documents cases.

    The group says its new practice will focus on investigations and litigation for both public and private clients. They’re pitching “full-service representation” built on “integrity, commitment, and zealous advocacy.”

    With multiple veterans of the Trump-era investigations joining forces, Smith’s new firm is poised to become a magnet for clients facing federal probes or regulatory scrutiny. Their background running some of the most complex, high-profile cases in the country gives them instant appeal to companies and individuals navigating an enforcement landscape that’s grown more unpredictable. And with recent turmoil inside the Justice Department, from shifting legal strategies to rapid staff turnover, demand is rising for lawyers who know exactly how federal cases are assembled.

    The timing isn’t accidental. Earlier this year, the administration suspended security clearances for lawyers at a D.C. firm that offered pro bono help to Smith — a sign of escalating friction around anyone tied to the Trump prosecutions.

    Smith remains under investigation by the Office of Special Counsel, which is probing whether his Trump-era prosecutions crossed the Hatch Act’s limits on political activity. But with his exit from government and the launch of a new private firm, he now has room to rebrand himself for civil and corporate work — a shift likely to attract clients facing pressure from the federal government.

    The firm will open its doors next month, but details on fees, initial clients, or specific specialties remain unknown.

    Smith also still faces political and legal hurdles, including a subpoena from the House Judiciary Committee for a closed-door deposition on his handling of the Trump cases.

    Trump Adviser Details ‘Utterly Surreal’ Escape From Middle East

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      Image via Pixabay

      Alex Bruesewitz, an adviser to President Trump, is recounting what he called an “utterly surreal” escape from the Middle East after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran triggered retaliatory attacks across the region.

      Bruesewitz said he was in Doha, Qatar, “just as the Iranian attacks erupted, leaving me stranded amid the chaos,” according to a Monday post on X that included video footage he recorded of Iranian rockets streaking across the sky above Qatar. He said he, Qatari lobbyist Jay Footlik and TikToker Sarah Gaither were scrambling to find a way home.

      “The past 72 hours have been utterly surreal, like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. Iranian missiles were flying directly over my head,” Bruesewitz wrote.

      In an interview with Politico, Bruesewitz said he sought “refuge in Qatar” and reached out to Qatari, Saudi, U.S. and White House officials for assistance. Those he contacted included White House deputy chief of staff James Blair and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.).

      Luna wrote on X that she was “actively coordinating with the Trump administration” and with Gulf embassies to help evacuate U.S. citizens from the region, “including my close friend and a dear friend of President Trump, @alexbruesewitz.”

      Bruesewitz expressed gratitude to Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and his government for their “unparalleled” care and “exceptional assistance and wavering commitment to my safety during my time in Doha.”

      “Second, a heartfelt thank you to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for providing top-tier security during my time there, and for ensuring that the other Americans and I could safely board our flight and depart the Gulf without incident,” he wrote. “It was also remarkable to witness the Qataris and Saudies collaborating seamlessly to protect American lives, they are both incredible allies.”

      He also thanked U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle “and her great staff on the ground for ensuring that our flight was able to successfully land in Athens on such short notice.”

      Bruesewitz said he has since arrived in Europe “and will be home soon.”

      The U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on Saturday, which killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, prompted a wave of retaliatory Iranian attacks targeting several Gulf allies. In response, the U.S. government ordered American citizens across the Middle East to depart immediately, citing reports that Iran had struck U.S. embassies in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

      The State Department has instructed Americans to leave Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen due to “serious safety risks.”

      Watch: Hollywood Actor Compares Trump To Hitler

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        Austin Green, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

        Famed actor Robert De Niro says he’s baffled as to why voters aren’t taking Donald Trump “seriously,” comparing the former president to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. 

        “I don’t understand why people are not taking him seriously,” the “Ezra” actor said of Trump during a Tuesday appearance on “The View.”

        “Because you read about it historically in other countries that they didn’t take the people seriously — Hitler and Mussolini, they’re fools and clowns,” De Niro, one of Hollywood’s most vocal Trump critics, said.

        “It’s gonna happen. If he gets elected, it’s going to change this country for everybody,” De Niro said.

        “Those people who support him with anger and hate — because that’s what he’s about — they’re going to see,” he said.

        Next, co-host Whoopi Goldberg added that if Trump is re-elected in November he will move to amend the Constitution to allow for Presidents to serve a third term.

        “If he becomes president again, he is not going to not stop being president,” Whoopi Goldberg, one of ABC daytime talk show’s co-hosts, added of Trump. 

        “You understand this? His idea is to stay in until he drops dead,” Goldberg said. 

        “That’s it,” De Niro agreed.

        “He’s not conceding it now. So imagine if he actually did win the election — it’s over. We’re going to have such civil strife,” De Niro said.

        De Niro has been a frequent critic of Trump, once famously saying he wanted to “punch” him in the face and describing him as a “flat-out blatant racist.” 

        Appeals Panel Affirms Former Trump Lawyer’s Disbarment Over 2020 Election Efforts

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          California appellate disciplinary panel upheld the recommendation to disbar constitutional law scholar and former Trump legal adviser John Eastman. The panel’s decision follows an earlier March 2024 ruling by Judge Yvette Roland of the State Bar Court, which found Eastman culpable of misconduct related to his legal strategies in the aftermath of the 2020 election.

          Eastman, a longtime legal academic and former dean of Chapman University Law School, has been a prominent figure in election-related litigation. At the heart of the case was Eastman’s advocacy for then-President Donald Trump, particularly his role in questioning the certification of electoral votes and exploring constitutional mechanisms related to vice-presidential authority during the joint session of Congress on January 6, 2021.

          The Review Department, which affirmed Roland’s ruling, concluded Eastman committed “multiple acts of moral turpitude” by making what it called “false and misleading statements” in legal filings. It alleged he advanced “frivolous” claims of voter fraud and helped develop a plan to urge Vice President Mike Pence to delay or refuse the certification of electoral results.

          “Eastman’s actions undermined democracy itself,” the panel wrote in a sweeping conclusion.

          Unless overturned by the California Supreme Court, the ruling effectively disbars Eastman — suspending his law license and disqualifying him from practicing in the state.

          Read the court’s opinion via Law & Crime

          Eastman and his legal team have vigorously defended his actions as protected legal advocacy and free speech. During the proceedings, Eastman stated:

          “To accuse me of making false statements runs afoul of my First Amendment right to raise questions.”

          His attorneys argued that Eastman was performing his professional duty — raising constitutional questions and advocating for his client — not misleading courts or the public. However, the appellate panel rejected this argument, claiming he had gone beyond legal theorizing into knowingly advancing false claims.

          Eastman’s legal team has vowed to appeal to the California Supreme Court, which has the authority to accept or reject the disbarment recommendation. If the ruling is upheld, Eastman will be permanently disbarred in California.

          Trump To Sit For FBI Interview As Assassination Probe Heats Up

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            A new development…

            Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has agreed to sit to meet with FBI officials and participate in a victim interview as the investigation into the recent assassination attempt continues.

            “The interview of the former president will be consistent with any other victim interview that we do,” Kevin Rojek, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office, told reporters on a conference call Monday. The FBI wants to “get his perspective on what he observed, just like any other witness to the crime.”

            Victim interviews are a routine part of criminal investigations but are voluntary.

            “It is a standard victim interview, like we would do for any other victim of crime under any other circumstances,” Rojek said.

            According to CNN, Rojek admitted that Crooks was “highly intelligent” and had a growing interest in shooting. While officials had already revealed that he searched “how far away was Oswald from Kennedy” before the shooting, Rojek said Monday that he also made other concerning searches related to “power plants, mass shooting events, information on improvised explosive devices and the attempted assassination of the Slovakian Prime Minister earlier this year.”

            His primary social circle “appears to be limited to his immediate family, as we believe, he had few friends and acquaintances throughout his life,” Rojek said.

            “While the FBI investigation may not yet have determined a motive, we believe the subject made significant efforts to conceal his activities,” Rojek said. “Additionally, we believe his actions also show careful planning ahead of the campaign rally.”

            The FBI said Crooks used aliases to purchase both different firearm related items as well as the chemical and explosive components used to make the explosive devices that were found in Crook’s car.

            It is still unclear how Crooks evaded security even after being noticed by law enforcement more than an hour before shots rang out, but the FBI said more than 300 agents and staff are working “round the clock” to gather facts and put together a clearer timeline of Crooks’ actions. 

            FBI officials are still working to determine Crooks’ motive behind the assassination attempt that rocked Butler and neighboring townships. They are also still working to determine whether Crooks planned with any coconspirators, though the agency clarified on Monday that there are no signs to indicate there were others involved.

            Trump is expected to return to Butler at some point for another rally, but he has not released any details on when that will be.

            Article Published With The Permission of American Liberty News.

            Man Accused Of Plotting Trump Assassination Claims He Was Pressured By Iran

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              Image via Gage Skidmore Flickr

              A Pakistani businessman accused of attempting to hire hit men to assassinate political figures — including President Donald Trump — told jurors in a New York courtroom that he was forced into the plot by Iran’s powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

              Asif Merchant, 47, testified Wednesday that Trump was not the only potential target in the alleged 2024 assassination scheme. According to Merchant, the list of possible victims also included then-President Joe Biden and former presidential candidate and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.

              Merchant told jurors he acted under pressure from an Iranian intelligence handler who threatened his relatives living in Iran.

              “My family was under threat, and I had to do this,” Merchant testified through an Urdu interpreter. “I was not wanting to do this so willingly.”

              He said he believed he would be arrested before anyone was harmed and planned to cooperate with U.S. authorities afterward in hopes of receiving leniency — and potentially a green card.

              Alleged plot uncovered by FBI

              Federal prosecutors say Merchant was arrested in July 2024 after outlining a murder-for-hire scheme to a man who was actually an informant working with the FBI. According to court filings, Merchant sketched out a plan on a napkin during a recorded meeting and later attempted to hire two men — who turned out to be undercover federal agents — to carry out the killing.

              He allegedly provided the agents with $5,000 as an initial payment while discussing possible methods for killing a political target.

              Authorities arrested Merchant in Texas as he prepared to leave the United States, before any attack could be carried out.

              Merchant testified that his handler initially asked him to recruit people in the United States willing to assist Iran. The assignment later escalated to finding someone capable of organizing protests, committing theft, laundering money and “maybe have somebody murdered.”

              “He did not tell me exactly who it is, but he told me — he named three people: Donald Trump, Joe Biden and Nikki Haley,” Merchant said in court.

              Prosecutors, however, argue that Merchant continued working on the plan even after U.S. immigration officials questioned him at Houston’s airport in April 2024 about his travel to Iran. Investigators say he researched Trump rally locations, drafted plans for a shooting at a political event and gathered money to pay the supposed hit men.

              In court filings, prosecutors also noted that Merchant never contacted law enforcement before his arrest and did not initially tell FBI agents that he had been acting under duress.

              If convicted, Merchant faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

              Part of broader Iran-linked threats

              The case is one of several alleged plots tied to Iran targeting former Trump administration officials in the years following the 2020 U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. U.S. officials say Iran has sought revenge for the strike by attempting to target Trump and other senior American figures.

              Another Justice Department case filed in 2024 accused an Afghan national, Farhad Shakeri, of working with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to organize a separate murder-for-hire scheme aimed at Trump and other targets.

              The Iranian government has repeatedly denied involvement in assassination plots against U.S. leaders.

              Authorities have also emphasized that other attempts on Trump’s life during the 2024 campaign — including the shooting at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania — were not connected to Iran and were carried out by individuals acting alone.

              Trial unfolds amid rising tensions

              Merchant’s trial comes during a period of heightened conflict between the United States and Iran. The proceedings are unfolding as a widening regional war involving Iran continues, with U.S. prosecutors arguing that the alleged plot reflects Iran’s willingness to conduct covert operations on American soil.

              Nikki Haley Announces Plans To Vote For Trump

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              The White House from Washington, DC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

              Despite initially stating that Donald Trump must decide if he wants to win her support, along with the primary voters who backed her campaign, Nikki Haley has announced who she’ll be supporting in the 2024 presidential election.

              It’s none other than Donald Trump.

              The former South Carolina governor and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations announced her support for Trump’s 2024 bid on Wednesday afternoon during an appearance at the Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C.

              As The Hill reports:

              “As a voter, I put my priorities on a president who’s going to have the backs of our allies and hold our enemies to account, who would secure the border, no more excuses. A president who would support capitalism and freedom, a president who understands we need less debt not more debt,” Haley said at the Hudson Institute, a conservative think tank. 

              “Trump has not been perfect on these policies. I’ve made that clear, many, many times. But Biden has been a catastrophe. So, I will be voting for Trump,” Haley said.

              Haley joined the Hudson Institute as its Walter P. Stern chair in April. Her remarks at the institute come as she continues to be a significant presence in Republican presidential primary results, despite having suspended her campaign in March.

              “Having said that, I stand by what I said in my suspension speech. Trump would be smart to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me and continue to support me, and not assume that they’re just going to be with him.”

              Article Published With The Permission of American Liberty News.

              Trump Resets His Campaign Team Amid Harris’ Rise

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                Image via Gage Skidmore Flickr

                ANALYSIS – Will this change the race dynamic? Earlier I asked whether, amid the media-fueled surge Kamala Harris is currently having, former President Donald Trump should bring his 2016 campaign chief back to his team.

                 Kellyanne Conway helped him win once, maybe she should help him again. 

                Well, Conway hasn’t been brought on board, yet. And some are trying to sabotage that possibility with rumors and intrigue.

                But Trump appears to be taking Harris seriously by resetting his campaign team by at least bringing in other major 2016 team members, as well as some from 2020.

                Critics will claim Trump is desperate, but the unfairly abbreviated campaign for Harris dishonestly created by the Democrats’ last minute candidate switcheroo, there is very little time to lose.

                Among his new hires is controversial 2016 campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski who preceded Conway.  He is reportedly being brought in as a senior adviser to be above the two current co-campaign managers.

                The New Republic noted that:

                Lewandowski was viewed as a fierce defender of Trump’s unorthodox approach to campaigning, according to The New York Times. When Trump was urged to soften his message to appeal to moderates, Lewandowski adopted the motto “Let Trump Be Trump.”

                [NOTE – Lewandowski even co-wrote a book about working on Trump’s campaign, titled ‘Let Trump Be Trump.’] 

                This nonstrategy stands in stark contrast to the current state of the race, in which Trump’s allies have begun urging him to stop making personal attacks against his opponent and stay on message. As such, Lewandowski’s hiring could signal Trump pushing back on his team’s attempts to get him to focus on policy rather than his typical grandstanding.

                The Washington Post reported:

                In addition to Lewandowski, the campaign is adding Tim Murtaugh, the communications director from Trump’s 2020 campaign, as well as three former officials from a pro-Trump super PAC: Alex Pfeiffer, Alex Bruesewitz and Taylor Budowich.

                “As we head into the home stretch of this election, we are continuing to add to our impressive campaign team,” Trump’s co-campaign managers, Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita, said in a statement Thursday. The five hires, they added, “are all veterans of prior Trump campaigns and their unmatched experience will help President Trump prosecute the case against Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, the most radical ticket in American history.”

                Trump has been annoyed for weeks at the direction of his campaign, even though he makes many of the most important decisions. He has called allies asking if he should replace anyone, The Washington Post has reported.

                Some 2016 alumni have voiced dissatisfaction with Wiles and LaCivita, suspecting them of controlling access to the former president and excluding or impugning longtime loyalists such as contributors to the Project 2025 policy blueprint. LaCivita has dismissed those detractors as a distraction.

                When Trump rebooted his campaign team in 2016, he ended up not only showing he was serious about the race, but of course he won the White House.

                Let’s hope this is part of a similar reboot. America needs Trump.

                The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Great America News Desk.